European leaders acted swiftly in support of Greenland on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the Arctic island, triggering diplomatic tensions across the continent.
The appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as envoy to Greenland marks another step in Trump’s attempt to annex the self-governing Danish territory. Trump emphasized the need for Greenland for U.S. national security.
Landry announced plans to visit Greenland to persuade locals to join the United States, expressing his eagerness to share the message of freedom and opportunity represented by the U.S. flag.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen responded with anger to the appointment, summoning U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Ken Howery for discussions. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen deemed the move “completely unacceptable.”
Despite Trump’s previous attempts to buy Greenland, Danish and Greenlandic leaders have consistently maintained that the mineral-rich island is not for sale. Earlier, Trump did not dismiss the idea of using military force to acquire the island.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed concern over the geopolitical maneuvers affecting his homeland, emphasizing that Greenland should not be reduced to a security issue.
Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, disclosed that Howery recently visited Nuuk without mentioning Landry’s appointment plans. She criticized the lack of communication as not demonstrating trust.
Motzfeldt stressed that Greenland’s future is determined by its people, who are not Danes or Americans, reinforcing their identity as Greenlandic people.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with Greenland, highlighting principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty in international law.
Jakob Weizman contributed reporting.
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