US Appoints Envoy to Greenland, Angering Denmark

Donald Trump has appointed Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as the United States’ special envoy to Greenland.

The decision that has prompted objections from Denmark and firm rejection from Greenland’s government. The appointment was announced on Sunday, with Trump saying that Greenland is essential to US national security. Landry described the role as voluntary and said it would not interfere with his responsibilities as governor. 

He also said he wanted Greenland to become part of the United States, remarks that immediately raised concerns in Denmark. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, responded by stressing that decisions about the territory’s future rest solely with its population. 

He said Greenland belongs to its people and that its territorial integrity must be respected. Nielsen added that international cooperation must be based on mutual respect, not unilateral actions. Although Greenland continues to debate possible independence from Denmark, public support for joining the United States remains low.

Denmark’s response has been critical. Foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the appointment was deeply troubling and warned that it could undermine the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Danish government has summoned the US ambassador for clarification, signalling the seriousness of its concerns. Rasmussen said Denmark could not accept actions that challenge its territorial integrity.

Trump’s renewed attention to Greenland reflects strategic and economic interests. The island sits between North America and Europe and occupies a key position in NATO defence planning, along the shortest route for potential missile trajectories between Russia and the United States. At the same time, retreating Arctic ice is opening new shipping routes and increasing access to mineral resources, intensifying international competition in the region. 

Trump has previously declined to rule out the use of force to gain control of Greenland, a position that has unsettled Denmark and strained relations with allies.

Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has had self-rule since 1979, while defence and foreign policy remain under Danish control. 

Its leaders have consistently emphasised their right to decide the territory’s future, weighing long-term independence against practical cooperation with international partners.