Denmark certifies U.S. security risk over Greenland conflict
Tensions between Denmark and the United States are rising amid President Trump’s recent push to acquire Greenland.
Denmark’s foreign minister summoned the U.S. ambassador on December 22, after President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland.
Lars Lökke Rasmussen said in a statement that Landry’s appointment shows the White House’s continued interest in the strategically located Arctic island rich in natural resources. Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States, has repeatedly said Greenland is not for sale.
“We insist that everyone, including the United States, must respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” Rasmussen said. “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security and will strongly advance our interests in the safety, security and survival of our allies and indeed the world,” Trump said in a post on his social media website Truth Social the day before.
Although Greenland is administered by Denmark, the region has its own local government. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said in a separate statement that Greenland would decide its own future.
Tensions between Copenhagen and Washington have worsened as President Trump has expressed interest in taking control of Greenland. Earlier this month, Danish intelligence for the first time described the United States as a potential threat to national security, citing the Trump administration’s willingness to use economic and military coercion and pressure to “enforce its will, even against allies.”
Landry has served as governor of Louisiana since January 2024, and his term ends in 2028. “It is an honor to serve in this volunteer capacity to help make Greenland part of the United States,” Landry said in an X social post thanking President Trump for his role. “This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!” he added.
Landry is a former police officer who served as Louisiana’s attorney general before being elected governor. Greenland is about three times the size of Texas and has a population of about 57,000 people.
