Trump Appoints Envoy to Greenland, Sparking Tensions with Denmark

Tue Dec 23 2025 17:25:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a controversial move, Donald Trump has appointed a special envoy to Greenland, reigniting discussions over the territory's future and tensions with Denmark.

Donald Trump's recent appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland has reignited a decade-old debate over the island's status. Trump has declared the U.S. needs Greenland for national protection, prompting a strong response from Danish officials, who stress Greenland's right to self-determination. This appointment highlights ongoing geopolitical interests in the Arctic, amidst fears of Chinese and Russian influences.

Donald Trump has sparked a fresh row with Denmark after appointing a special envoy to Greenland, the vast Arctic island he has expressed interest in annexing. Speaking to the BBC, Trump stated the U.S. needs Greenland for 'national protection' and emphasized, 'we have to have it.'

The newly appointed envoy, Jeff Landry, has been tasked with leading relations with the semi-autonomous territory, prompting a strong counter-response from Copenhagen. Danish officials have expressed the need for an explanation regarding the appointment, with Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insisting that they must 'decide our own future.'

Landry has publicly supported the idea of integrating Greenland into the U.S. and described his role as an honor to ensure Greenland's incorporation. Trump's fixation on Greenland has resurfaced since his return to the White House, where he cites its strategic value and mineral wealth as crucial for U.S. interests amid rising threats from Chinese and Russian activities in the region.

This latest conflict over Greenland underscores the disputed territorial rights and raises questions about international diplomatic norms, especially given that Denmark maintains sovereignty over the island while allowing extensive self-government since 1979.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the envoy's appointment 'deeply upsetting' and reiterated the need to respect Danish sovereignty. The tensions reflect broader strategic competition in the Arctic, where changing environmental conditions have opened new shipping routes and access to valuable resources.

As the geopolitical stakes continue to rise, Landry's appointment not only highlights Trump's enduring ambition regarding Greenland but also the complex interplay between U.S. interests and Greenlanders' aspirations for self-determination.