Sawt Falasteen - Dogsled diplomacy in Greenland proves elusive for US

The annual Avannaata Qimussersua race is dear to Greenlanders as the most prestigious event of its kind, pitting around 30 teams against each other to decide the territory's top dog sledders.

That has piqued the interest of team Trump as the American president pushes to take over Greenland.

In the space of a few days, Trump's special envoy for Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, was first invited and then uninvited to this year's race, to be held on March 28 in Qasigiannguit, a small community on the west coast.

Last year, after Trump revived his ambition to acquire Greenland, Usha Vance, wife of US Vice President JD Vance, had also planned to attend the race, before her appearance was cancelled.

"We're looking at manoeuvres that, if not outright interference, are at least a form of soft diplomacy that involves meeting local populations with the intent of influencing them," Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, a researcher on Arctic geopolitics, told AFP.

The would-be visits are part of a broader push by Washington to get a feel for the Greenlandic population -- which at this point is overwhelmingly opposed to joining the United States -- and encourage pro-American sentiment in order to win hearts and minds, according to the researcher.

In August, Danish public broadcaster DR reported that at least three Americans linked to Trump were conducting influence operations in Greenland.

Their mission was to identify those favouring closer ties to the United States, as well as those in fierce opposition, according to DR.

In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that US intelligence agencies had been ordered to gather information on Greenland's independence movement and views on potential US exploitation of the island's natural resources.

- Identity marker -

For many of Greenland's 57,000 inhabitants, of whom nearly 90 percent are Inuit, the Avannaata Qimussersua is strongly tied to identity.

The race, generally held at the end of the winter season, is part of the island's "living culture", said Manumina Lund Jensen, an associate professor in the Department of Cultural and Social History at the University of Greenland.

"It's very important for the Greenlanders, and it is a very emotional journey if you go there," she told AFP.

Amid renewed tension between Washington and Europe, the Greenland Dog Sledding Association (KNQK) recently announced that the invitation to Landry -- which had been extended without its knowledge by a private tour operator -- had been cancelled.

"KNQK has been informed that the tourism company that invited Governor Jeff Landry from the United States has unilaterally withdrawn its invitation," the organisation said in a statement.

"This is reassuring," it added.

- 'Political pressure' -

Greenlandic broadcaster KNR reported last week that Landry had been invited by tour operator Kristian Jeremiassen.

Speaking to KNR, Jeremiassen said he had invited "many different people" to the race, without specifying whom, "to promote tourism in northern Greenland".

However, the Greenland Dog Sledding Association said it found it "unacceptable that political pressure is being exerted from outside" and called the invitation "wholly inappropriate".

According to Blugeon-Mered, alongside his work as a tour operator, Jeremiassen is a politician "on the wane... whose primary goal is to make himself a kind of go-between (with the United States) to boost his business".

A year ago, Usha Vance had planned to attend the race without an official invitation.

"The US consulate had offered to fund most of the race," Blugeon-Mered said.

"They thought that by being the race's main sponsor, they could buy the organisers and do whatever they wanted. It didn't work."

JD Vance's planned visit had sparked strong objections in Denmark, which saw it as "unacceptable pressure" and said it risked provoking demonstrations during the event.

The US delegation ultimately changed its programme, and JD and Usha Vance instead visited an American air base at Pituffik, in the territory's northwest.

M.Qasim--SF-PST