Trump Reasserts Interest in Greenland,Appoints Special Envoy
US President Donald Trump reasserted that the United States needs Greenland for it’s national security and said a special envoy he appointed to the Arctic island would “lead the charge.”
mr. Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Sunday as his special envoy to Greenland, drawing renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Washington’s interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island.
Mr. Trump has advocated for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States, citing its strategic importance and mineral resources.
Mr. Landry,who took office as governor in January 2024,publicly supports the idea.
“We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals…If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.
“we need it for national security.We have to have it,” Mr.Trump told reporters in Palm Beach,Florida.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister jens-Frederik nielsen earlier said in a joint statement that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.
Watch: Trump says US has to have Greenland
“You cannot annex another country.Not even with an argument about international security,” they said.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland.”
Mr. Landry, in a post on X, thanked mr. Trump: “It’s an honor to serve … in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US. this in no way affects my position as governor of Louisiana!”
The Trump administration put further pressure on Copenhagen yesterday, when it suspended leases for five large offshore wind projects being built off the East Coast of the US, including two being developed by Denmark’s state-controlled Orsted.
Greenland, a former Danish colony with a population of about 57,000, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on fishing and Danish subsidies.
Its strategic position between Europe and North America makes it a key site for the US ballistic missile defense system, while its mineral wealth has heightened US interest in reducing reliance on Chinese exports.
After Mr. Trump made the appointment,Greenland’s Nielsen commented on Facebook: “We have woken up again to a new declaration from the US president. This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us.”