PALM BEACH / COPENHAGEN — President Donald Trump on Monday emphasized that the United States requires Greenland for “national security” purposes, following his appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the Arctic territory. The move sparked immediate diplomatic backlash from Denmark.
Speaking at a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, “We need Greenland for national security. Not for minerals… We have to have it.” He highlighted the strategic importance of the island, noting Russian and Chinese naval activity along its coast.
Landry, in his new role, pledged to make Greenland “a part of the US,” further escalating tensions with Copenhagen.
Denmark and Greenland Push Back
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint statement reiterating that Greenland belongs to its people. “You cannot annex another country. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity,” they said.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed anger over the US move and summoned the US ambassador to explain the appointment. “We very clearly drew a red line,” he told public broadcaster DR, emphasizing that the US must respect the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The European Union also voiced its support for Denmark, with Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa stressing that territorial integrity is a “fundamental principle of international law.”
Strategic Importance of Greenland
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is home to roughly 57,000 people and sits between North America and Europe, making it a key strategic location in the Arctic. The island hosts untapped rare earth minerals, has new shipping routes opening as polar ice melts, and lies along the shortest missile path between Russia and the US.
The US already maintains a military presence at Pituffik and opened a consulate in Nuuk in June 2020. Trump’s continued focus on Greenland underscores America’s interest in asserting influence in the Arctic region amid growing Russian and Chinese activity.
Despite strategic interest, polls indicate most Greenlanders favor independence from Denmark but do not wish to become part of the United States. Both Copenhagen and Nuuk have repeatedly emphasized that the island’s future will be decided locally.
Rising Arctic Tensions
The latest US actions follow previous diplomatic incidents, including an August 2025 episode where Danish authorities summoned the US charge d’affaires after American officials were observed attempting to gauge local opinion on deepening US ties. Denmark has also announced a $2.0-billion plan to boost its Arctic military presence in response to heightened geopolitical tensions.
