Infuriating Denmark, Trump Names Special Envoy to Greenland
Officials in both Denmark and Greenland expressed their displeasure on Monday regarding President Trump’s recent choice to designate a special envoy to Greenland, as he amplifies his intentions for the semiautonomous Danish territory. On Sunday, Mr. Trump announced via social media that he would appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a political ally, to this role. Denmark’s foreign minister promptly denounced the decision as “totally unacceptable” and stated that he would summon the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen for an explanation. This seemingly marks the first instance where the United States has named a special envoy specifically for Greenland. The territory—an enormous, frozen land inhabited by fewer than 60,000 residents—now shares a characteristic with issues like the war in Ukraine, Middle Eastern conflicts, and other matters, as Mr. Trump has selected an individual close to him to oversee all these matters with significant attention.
Mr. Landry immediately conveyed his understanding of Mr. Trump’s expectations, posting on X: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” On Truth Social, Mr. Trump remarked that “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security.” However, this appointment faced backlash from Greenland and further strained the U.S.-Denmark relationship, which has historically been strong. “You cannot annex other countries,” stated Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen along with Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in a joint declaration on Monday. “Not even by invoking international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the United States must not take over Greenland.” Mr. Nielsen further expressed on Facebook that the appointment “may sound big,” but “doesn’t change anything for us at home.” “We decide our future ourselves,” remarked Mr. Nielsen.
Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister, shared in a television interview on Monday that he felt “deeply upset” by Mr. Trump’s announcement and intended to call upon Ken Howery, the American ambassador to Denmark since October. Earlier this year, the Danish government had summoned American diplomats twice to voice complaints about allegations that the United States was engaging in espionage and conducting a clandestine influence campaign in Greenland. Earlier this month, marking a first for the Danish administration, Denmark’s military intelligence stated that shifts in American policies were creating new uncertainties regarding Denmark’s security. The designation of a special envoy for Greenland may increase pressure on Mr. Howery, a former PayPal executive regarded as close to Mr. Trump. In November, Mr. Howery sidestepped a question from reporters regarding the possibility of the United States seizing Greenland by force, yet he promised cooperation. “I very much look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the Danish government on our shared concerns about security in the Arctic,” he noted, as reported by DR, the Danish broadcaster.
Mr. Landry, a Republican who took office as Louisiana’s governor in 2023, has framed his initial term around demonstrating strength and loyalty to Mr. Trump, who frequently labels Mr. Landry a “great governor.” During his tenure, Mr. Landry has focused on crime reduction, particularly in New Orleans. He has fervently endorsed Mr. Trump’s deployment of the National Guard, requesting in September that the president send as many as 1,000 National Guard troops to his state. Danish officials and experts indicated that while the United States has appointed envoys for the broader Arctic region in the past, Mr. Landry would be the very first special envoy solely for Greenland. Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, characterized the action as a “significant escalation” from Mr. Trump, who has previously threatened to acquire Greenland either through financial means or military force since returning to the Oval Office. “It is not as if there is an abundance of special envoys,” Dr. Olesen remarked. “So when one is designated to assert control over Greenland, it indicates that Greenland is extremely prominent at the highest levels of focus.”
Published: 2025-12-22 14:08:00
source: www.nytimes.com
