Trump's envoy accuses Denmark of occupying Greenland
US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry (photo: Getty Images)
US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry said that after World War II, Denmark "occupied" the island, reestablishing control over it by ''ignoring UN protocol," he said.
Position of the special envoy
The Governor of Louisiana, appointed by Donald Trump as special envoy, emphasized the importance of historical context in relations between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland:
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Role of the United States: In his post, Jeff Landry noted that during World War II, when Denmark was occupied by the Nazis, Greenland's sovereignty was ensured by the United States.
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Accusations against Denmark: The politician claims that, after the war, Denmark reoccupied the island, in violation of UN norms and protocols.
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Nature of relations: He stressed that in the Greenland issue, the United States is acting out of hospitality, not hostility.
US claims on Greenland.
According to sources cited by Politico, Washington is considering taking control of the island in the coming months. Possible time frames mentioned include the period before July 4 (the 250th anniversary of US independence) or before the midterm elections in November 2026.
President Donald Trump argues the need for control over Greenland on strategic grounds, saying the island is "surrounded" by Russian and Chinese fleets and is therefore critically important for US defense.
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has already called on the United States to stop threats of annexation, stressing that Greenland is not for sale.
The head of the Danish government emphasized the inadmissibility of pressure from Washington.
"I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have said very clearly that they are not for sale," the prime minister added.
She also noted that regional security is already ensured by existing international agreements and by the Alliance's membership.
US President Donald Trump insists on the need to control Greenland, citing threats from Russia and China.
He called the current system for protecting the island ineffective, stating that its defense amounts to just "two dog sleds." Trump stressed that he will not allow US geopolitical adversaries to seize control in the region.
At the same time, calls for a deal were met with sharp opposition in Denmark and Greenland itself. Greenlandic politicians emphasized that the people do not want to become US citizens, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged the White House to respect the kingdom's sovereignty.
