Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Dec 23: US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that the United States needs Greenland for its national security, appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the Arctic island — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Denmark and Greenland.
Speaking to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said Greenland was strategically vital due to the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the Arctic region. “We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals. If you look at the coastline, you see Russian and Chinese ships everywhere. We have to have it,” he said, adding that Landry would “lead the charge.”
Trump officially named Landry as special envoy on Sunday. Landry, who assumed office as Louisiana Governor in January 2024, has openly supported Trump’s long-standing proposal for Greenland — a self-governing Danish territory — to become part of the United States.
The announcement has reignited diplomatic tensions, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issuing a joint statement rejecting the proposal. “You cannot annex another country — not even under the argument of international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” the statement said.
Landry, responding on social media platform X, thanked Trump for the appointment, describing it as an honour and stating that the role was voluntary and would not affect his responsibilities as Louisiana Governor.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration escalated pressure on Denmark by suspending leases for five offshore wind projects along the US East Coast, including two projects involving Denmark’s state-controlled energy firm Ørsted.
Greenland, a former Danish colony with a population of around 57,000, gained the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains economically dependent on fishing and subsidies from Denmark. Its location between North America and Europe makes it strategically important for US missile defence systems, while its mineral resources have attracted global attention amid efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.
Reacting to the envoy appointment, Greenland Prime Minister Nielsen said the announcement would not affect the island’s future. “We decide our own destiny,” he stated in a social media post.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he would summon the US ambassador to Denmark, calling the appointment “completely unacceptable.” Prime Minister Frederiksen also described the situation as difficult, noting that Denmark had invested significantly in Arctic defence to address US security concerns.
Political analysts in Denmark have observed that the move signals continued strain in transatlantic relations, despite Copenhagen’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with Washington in the Arctic region.