After naming Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the Arctic island’s special envoy, Copenhagen protested, President Donald Trump has stated that the United States needs Greenland for “national security.”
“We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals”, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday, adding that Landry would “lead the charge”.
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Landry said he would make the Arctic territory “a part of the US”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen vehemently criticize the remarks.
In a joint statement, they said, “You cannot annex another country… Not even with an argument over international security.” “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland”, they added.
Trump has repeatedly stated his desire for the mineral-rich island, which Denmark and many other European countries have unwaveringly rejected since he first returned to the White House in January.
What does Trump’s sending of an envoy mean for Greenland, and how likely is it that he will be able to acquire it?
Why is Trump saying Greenland is ‘ essential ‘ to US national security?
The island’s abundance of resources was deemed “essential” for security reasons by the US president rather than for its abundance of minerals.
He said on Monday that the US has “many sites for minerals and oil” and that if you look up and down the coast, you can see Russian and Chinese ships all over it.
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new.
He advocated the purchase of the island from Denmark during his first term as US president, which lasted from 2017 to 2021. After Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen criticized the idea, Trump then delayed a 2019 trip to the Nordic nation.
He has refused to rule out the use of military force to seize control, noting in March that the US would “go as far as we have to”.
Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is located about 2, 900 kilometers (1, 800 miles) from New York, which is geographically located in the same region as Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, which is located about 3, 500 kilometers (2, 174 miles) east.
There are 57, 000 inhabitants in the semi-autonomous territory.
Why has Trump sent an ‘ envoy ‘ to Greenland – what does that signify?
The US ambassador was summoned to explain the decision on Sunday when the US president named Louisiana governor Landry as its special envoy to Greenland.
Landry’s statement following the announcement further amplifies Denmark’s concern over the White House’s intentions by saying it would be an honor to serve in a capacity meant to “make Greenland a part of the US.”
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Landry is aware “how essential Greenland is” for US national security.
Even though Trump is “clearly serious” about his interest in Greenland, according to Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Danish Defence College, it is unlikely to use force to do so.
However, Jacobsen told Al Jazeera, “We certainly see attempts to gain influence through other channels, such as strategic investments and pushing narratives that portray Denmark as a bad partner.”
“The appointment of Jeff Landry as special envoy and Tom Dans as the leader of the US Arctic Research Commission should be seen as new elements in this strategy”, he added.
How has Greenland responded to this most recent action?
Dhaka’s Lokke Rasmussen said Landry’s appointment confirmed the continued US interest in Greenland.
“However, we insist that everyone – including the US – must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark”, he told the AFP news agency.
Greenland’s prime minister Nielsen stated on Monday that the country is “friendly” toward Washington and that “they know there is no obstacle to the United States increasing security in the Arctic on Greenlandic territory if they wish to do so.”
However, it is unacceptable to pressurize a nation that is populated and has its own sovereignty, Nielson told the daily Sermitsiaq.
People in Greenland broadly favour increased independence from Denmark – but not the transfer of sovereignty to the US.
In a 2009 referendum, Denmark granted Greenland a number of self-governing powers, including the right to declare its independence.
After at least three US officials linked to former president Trump were spotted in Nuuk, Greenland, in August, Denmark called the US charge of affairs to check local sentiments about bolstering ties with the US.
In March, US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, were accompanied by White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on a tour of the US’s Pituffik Space Base , in northwestern Greenland” to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with US service members”, according to a statement released by Vance’s office.
However, Mute Egede, the acting head of government in Greenland, claimed in a 2012 online post that the country had not actually invited anyone to come to the country for an official or private visit.
In response to Landry’s statement, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa stated that working with allies and partners was a “key priority” for the EU and will continue to be and continue to be.
” Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. These tenets are crucial for nations all over the world, they said on X.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, reiterated on Tuesday that France supports Denmark’s and Greenland’s territorial integrity.
He said Greenland” belongs to its people “and Denmark” serves as its guarantor”.
Why does the US value Greenland as strategic?
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that US defense and international security interests depend heavily on Greenland’s strategic location in the Arctic, particularly its proximity to North America and Europe.
Its location, offering the shortest route from North America to Europe, would give Washington leverage for its military and its ballistic missile early-warning system.
The US is interested in installing radars in the waters that connect Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. The US wants to track Russian and Chinese ships because these waters serve as their entry point.
The island also hosts the Pituffik Space Base, a major US military installation used for surveillance and missile warning operations.
What kind of mineral resources is there in Greenland?
Trump has disputed that his genuine interest in Greenland stems from its mineral wealth. However, it is rich in mineral resources critical for the production of modern technologies, including rare-earth elements for electronics and clean energy, as well as uranium, zinc and other base metals.
Although their extraction is restricted, there are also potential oil and gas deposits there. According to surveys, Greenland accounts for a sizable portion of the EU’s crucial raw materials.
What other nations are attempting to capture positions in the Arctic, and why?
In recent years, several nations have expanded their Arctic activities.
Climate change and a rapidly melting ice sheet are the main reasons the Arctic has become a geopolitical hotspot.
The Arctic is becoming more accessible for maritime trade routes and resource exploration, including by non-Arctic nations as well as those with an Arctic presence, at a rate four times faster than the average global temperature.
In the area, China has deployed ships capable of carrying out both military surveillance and research tasks. The purposes are to collect data and secure access to resources and shipping lanes, which are emerging as a result of melting ice.
In response to threats posed by growing Russian and Chinese activity, Canada released a 37-page security policy that included plans to increase its military and diplomatic presence in the Arctic last year.
Russia has increased its naval presence in recent years, deployed missile systems, and increased Arctic weapons testing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also noted Trump’s interest in the region.
Putin stated earlier this year that he believed Trump was serious about grabbing Greenland and that the US would continue to try to acquire it during an address at the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, Russia’s largest city within the Arctic circle.
Putin said, “It can look surprising only at first glance, and it would be wrong to think that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current US administration,” adding that he anticipates the US will continue to pursue its geostrategic, military-political, and economic interests in the Arctic.”
Putin also expressed concerns about Russia’s neighbours, Finland and Sweden – both of which have borders inside the Arctic circle – joining NATO, the transatlantic military alliance between North America and Europe. Sweden joined NATO in 2024, and Finland joined in 2023.
Putin stated that while Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, it will closely follow developments and develop a plan to combat them by strengthening our military might and modernizing its military infrastructure.
Could the US take Greenland by force?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would be ended if the US invaded Greenland, according to Jacobsen.
NATO, a military alliance between Europe and North America, was established in 1949 with the support of Denmark and the US.
” On a personal level for Trump, it would also mean the end of any ambitions for getting a peace prize, which he has strived for so long, “Jacobsen told Al Jazeera.
All of his efforts to end the wars in Ukraine, Palestine, and elsewhere would be futile.
Jacobsen added that “reasonable people in the right positions” are still present who would “pull the” handbrake” on a ridiculous idea like enraging Greenland.
