Donald Trump sparked a new dispute with Denmark after appointing a special envoy to Greenland, the vast Antarctic island that he said he would like to annex.
Trump announced Sunday that Jeff Landry, the Republican governor of Louisiana, will become the US special envoy to Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Governor Landry said in a post on X that it was an honor to serve in a “voluntary position to make Greenland part of the United States.”
This move angered Copenhagen, which said it would summon the US ambassador to obtain an “explanation.” Greenland’s prime minister said the island must “decide our future” and “its territorial integrity must be respected.”
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has revived his old interest in Greenland, citing its strategic location and mineral wealth.
He refused to rule out the use of force to secure control of the island, a position that shocked Denmark, a NATO ally that has traditionally enjoyed close ties with Washington.
Greenland, with a population of about 57,000 people, has enjoyed broad autonomy since 1979, although defense and foreign policy remain in Danish hands. Although most Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to the idea of joining the United States.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called Landry’s appointment “deeply disturbing” and warned Washington to respect Danish sovereignty.
He told Danish channel TV2: “As long as we have a kingdom consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, we cannot accept actions that undermine the integrity of our territories.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Fredrik Nielsen, said that the region is ready to cooperate with the United States and other countries, but only on the basis of mutual respect.
He said: “The appointment of a special envoy does not change anything for us. We decide our future. Greenland belongs to the citizens of Greenland, and its territorial integrity must be respected.”
The US President wrote on social media that Landry understands how “important Greenland is to our national security” and that it will advance American interests.
The importance of this appointment lies in the United States’ assumption that Greenland is separate from Denmark, and the new appointee’s assertion that he will help the island become part of the United States.
Envoys are informal appointments and, unlike official diplomats, do not have to obtain the approval of the host country.
What this appointment shows is that Trump’s ambition to control Greenland remains unlimited.
As with his military and rhetorical aggression toward Venezuela, it suggests that Trump is determined to gain greater control over what his latest national security strategy called the “Western Hemisphere,” a sphere of influence that he hopes will cover the entire Americas.
Landry previously expressed his opinion about Greenland, Writing on his personal account In January: “President Donald J. Trump is absolutely right! We need to ensure Greenland joins the United States. Great for them, great for us! Let’s get it done!”
Landry is a military veteran and former police officer who was a U.S. congressman and Louisiana’s attorney general before being elected governor in 2023. He said his new role will not affect his duties as governor.
The dispute over his appointment comes as strategic competition grows in the Arctic, where melting ice opens new shipping routes and increases access to valuable mineral resources.
Greenland’s location between North America and Europe also makes it central to US and NATO security planning.
The United States has maintained a base in Greenland since World War II, after its invasion to establish military and radio stations throughout the territory after the Nazis occupied Denmark during the conflict.
Vice President J.D. Vance He visited the base in March He also asked the people of Greenland to “make a deal with the United States.”
The United States reopened its consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, in 2020 – during Trump’s first term – after its closure in 1953. A number of European countries, as well as Canada, have honorary consulates general in Greenland.