Donald Trump has caused another rift with Denmark, sending a special envoy to Greenland, the vast Arctic island he said he would like to annex. On Sunday, Trump said that Jeff Landry, the Republican Governor of Louisiana, would become a Special Envoy for the US to Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark Calls Move ‘Deeply Upsetting’
The move has infuriated Copenhagen, which said it would summon the US ambassador for “an explanation”. A leader from Greenland insisted the island should shape its path ahead, while emphasising that borders deserve recognition. One voice, one direction – self-determination stands firm.
Greenland hosts roughly 57,000 souls, a place where local rule took root back in ’79. Still, Copenhagen holds the reins when it comes to military matters and global dealings. Most Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark – but opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the US.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the appointment of Landry as “deeply upsetting” and warned Washington to respect Danish sovereignty. He told Danish broadcaster TV2: “As long as we have a kingdom consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, we cannot accept actions that undermine our territorial integrity.”
Greenland PM: Island to decide its own future
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s leader, welcomes collaboration with the U.S., if mutual respect leads the way. Working together remains possible, though only when fairness shapes the path forward. Connection thrives where parity exists, never under push or urgency. The stance stands quietly, not loud or showy. Alliances grow slowly, fed by reliability instead of ultimatums. Mutual respect colours each exchange. Not a single favour asked, only a balance between us.
He came out and said it, appointing a special envoy changes nothing about where we stand. The significance of this appointment is, firstly, the US presumption that Greenland is separate from Denmark and, secondly, the new appointee’s assertion that he will help the island become a part of the US.
Envoys are informal appointments and as such, unlike official diplomats, are not subject to confirmation by the host country. What this appointment does show is that Trump’s ambition to control Greenland remains strong, joining his military and rhetorical aggression towards Venezuela in a determination to gain greater control over what his recent National Security Strategy called “the Western hemisphere”, a sphere of influence that he hopes will cover the whole of the Americas.
Landry Previously Voiced Support for Taking Greenland
Landry once commented on Greenland, saying: “President Donald J. Trump is Absolutely Right! We must make Greenland a part of the United States! Great for them, Great for us! Let’s get it done!”
Landry once wore a badge, then served in uniform, later stepping into courtrooms as Louisiana’s top lawyer before moving on to Washington. Taking office as governor in 2027 didn’t alter his view of the role, duties reshaped themselves, yet the burden stayed familiar.
A rift emerges around the president’s pick to champion U.S. stakes in the Arctic – tensions mount as nations jostle for position in a thawing frontier where vanishing ice reveals fresh trade routes along with untapped wealth beneath the frozen ground.
Greenland’s position between North America and Europe also makes it central to US and Nato security planning. The US has maintained a base in Greenland since World War Two, after invading to establish military and radio stations across the territory following the occupation of Denmark by the Nazis during the conflict. Vice-President JD Vance visited the base in March as he asked Greenland’s people to “cut a deal with the US”.
In 2020, during Trump’s first term in office, the US reopened a consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, for the first time since it was closed in 1953. Several European countries, as well as Canada, have honorary general consulates in Greenland.
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