President Donald Trump on Sunday (Monday NZT) announced he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as the US special envoy to Greenland, the vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that Trump has said the US needs to take over.
"Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World," Trump said in announcing the appointment.
Trump during his presidential transition and in the early months of his return to the White House repeatedly called for US jurisdiction over Greenland, and has not ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island.
The issue had drifted out of the headlines in recent months, but in August, Danish officials summoned the US ambassador following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.
Earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance visited a remote US military base on the island and accused Denmark of underinvesting there.
Trump has said that Greenland is crucial for US security and hasn’t ruled out taking the island by military force, even though Denmark is a NATO ally of the US.
Landry took office as governor in January 2024. His term ends in January 2028.
"It's an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US, Landry wrote in a posting on X in which he thanked Trump for the appointment. He added, "This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana".
Denmark, a NATO ally of the US, and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the US gathering intelligence there. The US push for Greenland is also opposed by Russia and much of Europe.
The Embassy of Denmark in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Landry's appointment.
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in a report earlier this month that the United States is using its economic power to "assert its will" and threaten military force against friend and foe alike.
The service, in its annual assessment, said Washington’s greater assertiveness under the Trump administration also comes as China and Russia seek to diminish Western, especially American, influence.
"The strategic importance of the Arctic is rising as the conflict between Russia and the West intensifies, and the growing security and strategic focus on the Arctic by the United States will further accelerate these developments," the report said.
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