...
By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump’s newly appointed Greenland special envoy, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he would work to “make Greenland a part of the U.S.,” reviving tensions with Copenhagen over the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement posted to Instagram. "The U.S. shall not take over Greenland."
Newsweek has approached the White House and Landry's office for comment via email.
Read More on World
Why It Matters
Sparsely-populated Greenland is mineral-rich, and the U.S.'s Pituffik Space Base on the northwest of the island is key for detecting any long-range missiles bound for the U.S. mainland. Vice President JD Vance visited Pituffik back in March and accused Denmark of failing to invest in the Arctic island.
The Arctic surrounding Greenland is also attracting increasing attention from the world's major powers as climate change opens up new trade routes.
...
What To Know
Trump announced he had appointed Landry, a Republican, in a Truth Social post late on Sunday. The president said Landry "understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World."
In his own public message on X directed at the president, Landry called it “an honor” to serve in what he described as a “volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” He did not elaborate on what this might entail, but added that the role “in no way affects” his duties as governor.
Trump has made no secret of his desire to bring Greenland under U.S. control. In 2019, during his first term, he proposed buying the island from Denmark, and the president has only ramped up the pressure since returning to office in January. Denmark—a NATO founding member unsettled, like much of Europe, by Washington’s pivot from decades of transatlantic support—warned that the U.S. must respect international borders.
Though the strained relationship seemed to settle as the year wore on, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said earlier this month the U.S. was "leveraging economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to assert its will, and the possibility of employing military force–even against allies–is no longer ruled out." Trump has refused to take military action off the table.
Polling for Danish and Greenlandic media in January showed an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders did not want to leave Denmark to become a part of the U.S., although support was significantly higher for independence.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, said on Monday Trump's announcement "may sound significant" but said it "does not change anything for us here at home."
"We are happy to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, but this must always be done with respect for us and for our values and wishes," Nielsen said.
Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, told Danish broadcaster DR that he would summon the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Ken Howery. Rasmussen said Landry's statement was “completely unacceptable.”
What People Are Saying
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden's minister for foreign affairs, said in a post on X Monday: "It is for Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland. Sweden stands wholeheartedly behind its neighbour on these issues and will always stand up for international law. The obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is a fundamental principle of international law."
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said on Monday: "We decide our own future. Greenland is our country. We have our own democracy, our own decisions and a strong community that stands firm. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and its territorial integrity must be respected."
Update, 12/22/2025, 10:03 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines