COPENHAGEN (FN) — President Donald Trump’s appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland has triggered a diplomatic storm, after Landry openly declared he would serve to make the Arctic island part of the United States.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Monday he was “deeply angered” by Landry’s remarks, stressing that they were “completely unacceptable” and violated the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark. Rasmussen confirmed he would summon U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Howery for urgent talks in Copenhagen.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within Denmark, has long resisted U.S. overtures. Landry’s statement revived Trump’s earlier attempts to purchase Greenland in 2019, which Denmark dismissed as “absurd.” The envoy’s appointment is seen in Copenhagen as a direct challenge to sovereignty and a provocation to NATO allies.
Landry, thanking Trump on social media, said he was honored to serve and emphasized Greenland’s importance to U.S. national security. Trump himself praised Landry as someone who “understands how essential Greenland is” for America’s safety and survival, signaling a renewed push for influence in the Arctic.
Danish lawmakers across the political spectrum condemned the move. Karsten Hønge of the Socialist People’s Party warned that the appointment was “dangerous for Greenland and the realm, but in reality also for the whole world.” Opposition figures accused Trump of disrespecting Denmark’s sovereignty and undermining trust between allies.
The controversy underscores Greenland’s strategic significance. The island lies between North America and Russia, hosting the U.S. Thule Air Base, and is believed to contain vast mineral wealth beneath its ice sheets. Analysts say Trump’s envoy appointment signals a renewed U.S. bid to expand Arctic dominance, where Russia and China are also competing for influence.
Greenlandic leaders reiterated that decisions about sovereignty rest with the island’s people. “We are not for sale,” officials said, echoing Denmark’s earlier rebuke of Trump’s 2019 proposal. They stressed that while Greenland welcomes international cooperation, annexation talk is unacceptable.
Media in Denmark framed the appointment as a diplomatic provocation, while commentators warned that the envoy’s annexation rhetoric risks escalating tensions in the Arctic. Editorials argued that the move could destabilize NATO unity and strain transatlantic relations at a time of heightened global competition.
The envoy controversy has also revived debate over U.S. foreign policy under Trump, with critics arguing that his transactional approach to diplomacy undermines alliances. Supporters, however, claim the appointment reflects a pragmatic recognition of Greenland’s strategic importance.
As Copenhagen prepares to confront Washington diplomatically, the envoy appointment highlights the growing importance of the Arctic in global politics — and the risks of clashing visions between allies over territory, sovereignty, and security.
