Since World War II, American forces have been stationed on the island. Today, from a remote outpost, they watch the skies.

On Friday, the US vice president was scheduled to visit the only remaining US military base in Greenland. Its history has been peppered with controversy, fueling locals' grievances against Copenhagen.

The United States military's northernmost base, Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, is a crucial cog in Washington's missile defences which US Vice President JD Vance will visit on Friday. The Pituffik base was used as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War and remains an essential part of the United States' missile defence infrastructure.

The remote Arctic facility protects the US against threats from Russia – the shortest route for Moscow’s missiles is via the North Pole.

The Pituffik Space Base in Greenland is the US Department of Defence's northernmost installation, crucial for US and NATO missile and space operations. Renamed in 2023 to honor Greenlandic heritage, it operates under extreme Arctic conditions and hosts the world's northernmost deepwater sea port.

US Second Lady Usha Vance is not visiting Greenland alone. Her husband, Vice President JD Vance, is also joining her. They will visit Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday to receive a briefing on Arctic security and meet with US service members.

Pituffik Space Base is located on Greenland's northwestern coast, across from Nunavut in Canada. The US and Denmark established a radio and weather station here in 1946.

Vice President JD Vance will travel to Greenland this week, including a stop at Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. Defense Department's northernmost installation and its only outpost on the island.