Trump names Greenland envoy, unsettling Denmark and Arctic ties
During transition and early second term, Trump repeatedly pushed US control over Greenland, alarming allies and reviving ambitions
Denmark and Greenland have pushed back forcefully against renewed US interest in Greenland, after President Donald Trump announced the appointment of a special envoy to the vast Arctic territory—reopening a debate many in Copenhagen and Nuuk believed had already been settled.
On Monday, the leaders of Denmark and Greenland made it clear that Greenland is not for sale, takeover, or negotiation. Their response came a day after Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, a move that immediately reignited diplomatic tensions between Washington and one of its NATO allies.
In a rare joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasized the basic principles of international law. “You cannot annex another country.
Trump’s decision to appoint an envoy comes against the backdrop of his long-standing interest in Greenland, which dates back to his first term and intensified again during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term. During that period, Trump repeatedly floated the idea of bringing Greenland under US jurisdiction and has, at times, declined to rule out the use of military force to secure control of the mineral-rich and strategically located island.
Speaking to reporters on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump defended the move. “We need Greenland for national security,” he said, citing increased Russian and Chinese activity in Arctic waters. “If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”
Trump portrayed Landry as a natural choice for the role, calling him a “deal-maker” who approached the president about the position himself. Landry, for his part, described the appointment as an honor, writing on social media that he would serve in a voluntary capacity while continuing his duties as Louisiana’s governor. His post went further, stating his aim was to “make Greenland a part of the US,” language that alarmed officials in Denmark and Greenland.
Danish authorities said the announcement came without warning. A Danish government official, speaking anonymously, said Copenhagen had expected Trump to take a tougher line on Greenland and the Arctic in the administration’s new national security strategy, but were surprised when the document made no mention of either. The envoy announcement, therefore, came as a shock.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he would summon the US ambassador to Copenhagen, Kenneth Howery, for talks. Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR reported that Rasmussen intended to seek clarification on Washington’s intentions and to underline Denmark’s position directly.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen struck a calm but firm tone in a separate statement, saying the island had “once again woken up to a new announcement from the US.
The issue had largely faded from headlines after Vice President JD Vance visited a remote US military base in Greenland in March, where he accused Denmark of under-investing in Arctic security. However, tensions resurfaced in August, when Danish officials summoned a top US diplomat following reports that individuals linked to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.
The wider international response has also been swift. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced strong support for Denmark and Greenland, describing Arctic security as a key priority for the European Union.
Denmark, a member of both NATO and the EU, now finds itself navigating a delicate balance—maintaining close ties with Washington while firmly rejecting any suggestion that its territory, or Greenland’s, is open to annexation. Greenland, meanwhile, continues to assert its autonomy and identity, making clear that strategic importance does not override the right of its people to decide their own future.
As Arctic competition intensifies and global powers look northward, the episode underscores a growing reality: even among allies, ambition can strain trust. For Denmark and Greenland, the message remains simple and resolute—cooperation is welcome, but sovereignty is non-negotiable.