Trump Appoints Envoy to Greenland with Aim to Incorporate Territory into the United States
Jeff Landry, the Louisiana governor, was appointed by Donald Trump as the special envoy to Greenland with the goal of making Greenland part of the United States. This move has sparked diplomatic tensions as Denmark, to which Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory, summoned the U.S. ambassador in protest. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the comments as completely unacceptable and emphasized the need to respect Denmark's territorial integrity.
Greenland hosts a U.S. military base and recently was the site of NATO drills in September. In March, U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the military base in Greenland and criticized Denmark for underinvesting in the territory. In August, Danish officials again summoned the U.S. ambassador following reports of covert influence operations connected to Trump in Greenland involving three individuals.
Trump has stated that Greenland is essential to U.S. national security and has not ruled out the use of military force to secure it, asserting that such action would enhance safety and security for allies and the world. According to the Danish Defence Intelligence Service annual report, the U.S. is leveraging economic power to assert its will and threaten military force. The report highlights the Arctic region's strategic importance and the accelerating developments there.
This report was released on Monday, 22 December 2025.
