In a significant escalation of his long-standing territorial ambition, former and now again US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States "has to have" Greenland, framing the acquisition as a critical national security imperative.
A Special Envoy for a Strategic Goal
This bold statement follows the President's appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the vast, semi-autonomous Danish territory. Announced on Tuesday 23 December 2025, the move signals a formal push to bring Greenland under American control. President Trump stated that Governor Landry would "lead the charge" in this endeavour, praising him as someone who "understands how essential Greenland is to our national security."
The President elaborated on his security concerns, pointing to the presence of foreign powers in the region. "If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place," Mr Trump asserted. He downplayed the island's vast mineral wealth as a primary motive, insisting, "We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals... We have to have it... Greenland is a big deal."
Firm Rejection from Copenhagen and Nuuk
The proposition has been met with immediate and unequivocal rejection from both Denmark and Greenland's own government. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a powerful joint statement, firmly asserting that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.
"You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security," they declared. In a clear diplomatic rebuke, Denmark has already summoned the US ambassador to protest the move, with its foreign minister noting it demonstrates continued American interest in the territory.
Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, emphasised that all nations, including the US, must respect Denmark's territorial integrity. This stance comes amid reports that President Trump, since winning his second term, has repeatedly advocated for a US takeover and has not ruled out using military force to achieve it.
Strategic Stakes in a Warming Arctic
The geopolitical tussle over Greenland is rooted in its immense strategic value. Its location between Europe and North America makes it a key site for the US ballistic missile defence system. Furthermore, its untapped mineral resources are seen in Washington as a way to reduce reliance on Chinese exports.
The situation has been simmering for months. In March, US Vice President JD Vance visited a remote American military base in Greenland and criticised Denmark, a NATO ally, for underinvesting there. Tensions flared again in August when Danish officials summoned the US ambassador after reports emerged of at least three people linked to Mr Trump conducting covert influence operations on the island.
The broader Arctic context is one of intensifying competition. A recent annual report from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service warned that the US was using its economic power to "assert its will" and threaten force. It highlighted the Arctic's rising importance as "conflict between Russia and the West intensifies." Echoing these concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated Russia is worried about NATO's Arctic activities and will bolster its own military capabilities in the polar region in response.
