Crypto News: A bizarre tussle over Greenland

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There's no escaping the Greenland saga.

A planned trip to the Danish territory by a US delegation expected to include National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been pared back at the last minute, helping to ease a tense diplomatic moment.

How long the calm will last remains to be seen.

What had been a three-day swing is now down to a single-day visit by Vice President JD Vance and his wife to a US military base some 1,000 miles north of Greenland's capital, far from anticipated anti-US protests.

The delegation was originally to be led by Second Lady Usha Vance and joined by her son, resembling a family excursion. There were plans to watch a national dog sled race, and no mention of President Donald Trump's designs on the island.

The vice president then added to the surreal feeling by posting a video on X yesterday saying he'd come along as he didn't want to miss out on "all that fun."

The timing of the trip angered Greenlandic and Danish officials, with negotiations to form an island government still ongoing. Trump insisted the visit was about "friendliness, not provocation," even as locals saw it as having everything to do with flexing power.

In Denmark, Trump's rhetoric and tactics are seen as both absurd and threatening, testing the delicate balance of Greenland's semi-autonomous status.

Some Danes have responded with boycotts of American goods, and some supermarkets are labeling European products to nudge consumers toward buying local.

Behind the scenes, Danish officials are walking a diplomatic tightrope: pushing back just enough while avoiding a direct confrontation that could further provoke Trump.

The change of travel plans may be enough to allow both sides to claim a win. For now, Denmark and Greenland are breathing a little easier.

But with Trump undeterred, this looks like a temporary respite. — Sanne Wass

WATCH: Greenland's voters unexpectedly picked a party backing a slower approach to independence in an election overshadowed by Trump's designs on the island. Sanne Wass reports from Nuuk.

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Rachel Reeves. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

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Trump is upending international markets with his aggressive and unpredictable escalation of tariffs on allies and enemies alike. What's really the message behind his trade wars? Join us for a Live Q&A tomorrow (March 27) at 10 a.m. EDT.

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