Trump emphasized that his interest in Greenland is not solely about resources, but is due to its strategic location. He also announced the appointment of Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, as a special envoy to address issues related to the island. "We need Greenland for national security. If you look at its coastline, you can see many Russian and Chinese vessels. We simply must have it," the president noted.
Landry's appointment sparked a strong reaction both in Denmark and on the island itself. In his social media post on platform X, the new special envoy expressed gratitude to Trump and emphasized that his duties would not affect his work as governor. He also stated his goal of "incorporating Greenland into the United States."
In response to these actions, a joint statement was issued by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen, in which they emphasized that the island belongs to its inhabitants and that annexation is unacceptable even under the pretext of ensuring international security. They declared that the U.S. has no right to seize Greenland.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs, added that he intends to summon U.S. Ambassador Kenneth H. M. Howe to discuss these issues. He reminded that during a recent trip to Greenland, the American diplomat spoke of "mutual respect," and called the emergence of a special representative from Trump, tasked with taking control of the island, completely unacceptable.
Trump has consistently advocated for the inclusion of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark, into the United States, citing its strategic significance and mineral resources.
According to Reuters, on December 22, the Trump administration intensified pressure on Denmark by suspending licenses for five major offshore wind farm projects off the eastern coast of the U.S., including two projects initiated by the Danish state company Orsted.
Greenland, once a Danish colony with a population of about 57,000, gained the right to independence under a 2009 agreement but still relies on fishing and financial aid from Denmark. The island plays an important role in the U.S. missile defense system due to its strategic location between Europe and North America, and it has attracted Washington's interest because of its mineral resources amid efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese imports, Reuters notes.
