After U.S. President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy for Greenland, threatening Denmark's sovereignty, the Danish government immediately summoned the U.S. ambassador for a strong diplomatic protest. A territorial dispute between allies is showing signs of expanding into a geopolitical crisis in the Arctic.
On the 21st (local time), President Trump announced on social media that he had tapped Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland. Trump said, "Gov. Landry understands well how important Greenland is to U.S. national security," adding, "He will play a major role for U.S. interests and global prosperity."
Gov. Landry responded immediately. On X, he wrote, "Honored to serve to make Greenland part of the United States." This is interpreted as an official statement that the envoy's mission goes beyond simple diplomatic support to an intention to incorporate Greenland as U.S. territory.
Denmark pushed back immediately. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen issued a joint statement demanding respect for sovereignty. In the statement, they said, "Borders and sovereignty are fundamental principles based on international law," and made clear that "no country can be annexed under the pretext of international security." Greenland Prime Minister Nielsen added on Facebook, "Greenland is Greenlandic, and territorial integrity must be respected."
A diplomatic response followed. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said, "The U.S. decision is completely unacceptable," and announced he would summon the U.S. ambassador to seek an explanation. The Danish government has been unable to hide its dismay that the appointment proceeded unilaterally without prior consultation.
Experts see the move as a signal that President Trump's intent to acquire Greenland has entered the implementation stage. Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said, "It is rare to appoint a special envoy for a specific country or region," analyzing it as "a highly strategic escalation aimed at securing control over Greenland."
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and, under the 2009 Self-Government Act, exercises broad autonomy except in diplomacy and defense. From the start of the term, President Trump has focused on Greenland's rich buried natural resources and its geopolitical value. Earlier this year, Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. military base in Greenland and criticized Denmark for being stingy on security investment, a comment interpreted in the same context.
Danish intelligence warned that U.S. pressure has gone beyond mere diplomatic rhetoric. In a recent report, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service pointed out that "the United States seeks to impose its will by mobilizing economic means and military threats even against allied countries." The European Union (EU) also backed Denmark's position, saying, "Territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders are central to European security."
The conflict over Greenland is putting the trust between the United States and its Nordic allies to the test. If the Trump administration continues to press annexation claims fronted by a special envoy, significant ripple effects are expected not only on the Arctic security landscape but also on cohesion within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).