Trump Appoints Special Envoy for Greenland Acquisition Amid International Opposition

United States President Donald Trump escalated efforts to acquire Greenland by appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy on Sunday, December 22, 2025. President Trump characterized the move as vital for United States national security, citing increasing naval operations by Russia and China within the Arctic region. Governor Landry, who assumed the Louisiana governorship in January 2024, accepted the unpaid role with the stated aim of facilitating Greenland's potential incorporation into the U.S.

This diplomatic initiative met immediate and unified resistance from the governments of Denmark and Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint declaration asserting that annexation is impermissible under international law, regardless of security justifications. Nielsen further underscored Greenland's right to self-determination, stating that Greenland's future is decided by its people. The diplomatic tension escalated when Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, summoned U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Howery to convey strong disapproval over Landry’s comments regarding annexation.

Coinciding with the diplomatic friction, the Trump administration applied economic pressure on Danish interests. On Monday, December 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior suspended leases for five significant offshore wind projects along the U.S. East Coast. The Department cited national security concerns, specifically Pentagon worries that large turbine blades and reflective towers could interfere with military radar systems. Among the affected projects were two in which Denmark's state-controlled energy company, Orsted, held a partnership, including the Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island. Following the announcement, Orsted shares declined by more than 12 percent, reflecting the immediate financial impact of the dispute.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with a population of approximately 57,000 residents as of early 2025, maintains a population majority favoring independence from Denmark but opposing unification with the U.S. The island’s strategic importance is amplified by its location in the Arctic, where climate change is opening new maritime passages. The U.S. already maintains the Pituffik Space Base under a 1951 defense agreement, which is critical for U.S. missile early warning capabilities. This broader geopolitical competition for Arctic dominance, encompassing control over emerging sea routes and untapped natural resources, provides the context for the administration's formalized strategy.

The European Union, through a statement by Chief Ursula von der Leyen, voiced full solidarity with Denmark, emphasizing the foundational importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Analysts view the creation of a dedicated special envoy, particularly a politically aligned figure like Governor Landry, as a more structured approach to advancing U.S. interests, moving beyond earlier discussions from May 2025. European defense experts suggest that such Arctic challenges should be addressed through existing international frameworks rather than through territorial acquisition.