What is the story about?
United States President Donald Trump has once again asserted that the US needs Greenland for its national security, appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the Arctic territory.
"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," Trump said while speaking in Florida's Palm Beach on Monday, December 22.
He added that Landry wanted to "lead the charge", as per news agency Reuters.
US vs Denmark again
The appointment has revived long-running tensions between Washington and Denmark, which governs Greenland as a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the US should acquire Greenland, a position he has refused to rule out enforcing through pressure or force.
Landry, who became Louisiana’s governor in January 2024, welcomed the role. "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," Landry wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Denmark and Greenland push back
Denmark and Greenland responded swiftly and sharply. In a joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, "You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security."
Read more: Trump pulls 30 envoys in ‘America First’ push, critics say it weakens US leadership
They stressed that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland," as per Reuters.
Nielsen later played down the impact of the appointment, stating, "This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us. We decide our own future," on Facebook.
Frederiksen described the situation as deeply troubling, writing that Denmark’s "ally of a lifetime" was placing it in "a difficult situation".
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he would summon the US ambassador, calling the appointment "completely unacceptable", particularly after Landry suggested his task involved taking over Greenland.
Why Greenland matters
Greenland’s importance lies in both geography and resources. Located between North America and Europe, it hosts key elements of the US ballistic missile defence system and sits along critical Arctic sea routes increasingly frequented by Russia and China, as per a report by The Guardian.
The island is also rich in minerals, adding to US interest as Washington seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains. Although Trump has insisted security is the primary motive, mineral wealth remains a significant underlying factor.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, gained the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement. While many Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, polls show little appetite for becoming part of the US either, as per a BBC report.
Past US pressure and rising tensions
This is not the first time Greenland has been at the centre of US attention. In August, Denmark summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen over alleged American influence operations aimed at encouraging secession from Denmark.
Read more: Trump set to expand immigration crackdown in 2026 with billions in new funding
A US official responded by saying, "We think the Danes need to calm down." Danish intelligence later warned of attempts to exploit divisions between Greenland and Denmark, as per BBC.
Denmark has also accused Washington of using economic pressure, including the suspension of offshore wind project leases involving Danish firm Ørsted, to signal its displeasure.
"This appointment shows that all the money Denmark has invested in Greenland, in the defence of the Arctic, and all the friendly things we have said to the Americans, have had no effect at all," political scientist Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen observed, as per Reuters.
A standoff with wider implications
The dispute has drawn strong backing for Denmark from European leaders, with EU officials emphasising that territorial integrity is a core principle of international law.
For now, Greenland’s leadership remains firm. As Nielsen put it: "We have our own democracy, our own decisions and a strong community that stands firm. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."
Read more: US intensifies curbs on Venezuela by pursuing third oil tanker
"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," Trump said while speaking in Florida's Palm Beach on Monday, December 22.
He added that Landry wanted to "lead the charge", as per news agency Reuters.
US vs Denmark again
The appointment has revived long-running tensions between Washington and Denmark, which governs Greenland as a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the US should acquire Greenland, a position he has refused to rule out enforcing through pressure or force.
Landry, who became Louisiana’s governor in January 2024, welcomed the role. "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," Landry wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Denmark and Greenland push back
Denmark and Greenland responded swiftly and sharply. In a joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said, "You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security."
Read more: Trump pulls 30 envoys in ‘America First’ push, critics say it weakens US leadership
They stressed that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland," as per Reuters.
Nielsen later played down the impact of the appointment, stating, "This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us. We decide our own future," on Facebook.
Frederiksen described the situation as deeply troubling, writing that Denmark’s "ally of a lifetime" was placing it in "a difficult situation".
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he would summon the US ambassador, calling the appointment "completely unacceptable", particularly after Landry suggested his task involved taking over Greenland.
Why Greenland matters
Greenland’s importance lies in both geography and resources. Located between North America and Europe, it hosts key elements of the US ballistic missile defence system and sits along critical Arctic sea routes increasingly frequented by Russia and China, as per a report by The Guardian.
The island is also rich in minerals, adding to US interest as Washington seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains. Although Trump has insisted security is the primary motive, mineral wealth remains a significant underlying factor.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, gained the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement. While many Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, polls show little appetite for becoming part of the US either, as per a BBC report.
Past US pressure and rising tensions
This is not the first time Greenland has been at the centre of US attention. In August, Denmark summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen over alleged American influence operations aimed at encouraging secession from Denmark.
Read more: Trump set to expand immigration crackdown in 2026 with billions in new funding
A US official responded by saying, "We think the Danes need to calm down." Danish intelligence later warned of attempts to exploit divisions between Greenland and Denmark, as per BBC.
Denmark has also accused Washington of using economic pressure, including the suspension of offshore wind project leases involving Danish firm Ørsted, to signal its displeasure.
"This appointment shows that all the money Denmark has invested in Greenland, in the defence of the Arctic, and all the friendly things we have said to the Americans, have had no effect at all," political scientist Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen observed, as per Reuters.
A standoff with wider implications
The dispute has drawn strong backing for Denmark from European leaders, with EU officials emphasising that territorial integrity is a core principle of international law.
For now, Greenland’s leadership remains firm. As Nielsen put it: "We have our own democracy, our own decisions and a strong community that stands firm. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."
Read more: US intensifies curbs on Venezuela by pursuing third oil tanker
