US Envoy Suggests Washington Could Expand Presence In Greenland

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

NUUK, GREENLAND (Worthy News) – The U.S. special envoy to Greenland suggested Wednesday that Washington could still seek greater control over the Arctic island, saying it was time for the United States “to put its footprint back” on Greenland.

Jeff Landry, who also serves as Louisiana’s Republican governor, made the remarks during his first visit to the Danish autonomous territory since being appointed special envoy in December 2025.

“What I’ve found is that Greenland was not on a map until Donald Trump put it on a map,” Landry said in comments posted on social media platform X. “The United States, before Donald Trump, had basically ignored this place.”

Landry credited Trump with bringing new attention to Greenland and argued that closer ties with Washington could create economic opportunities for Greenlanders and reduce their dependence on Denmark.

GREENLAND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should control Greenland because of its strategic military importance and concerns that China or Russia could expand influence in the Arctic region.

Greenland sits on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States and is believed to contain vast untapped rare-earth mineral resources. Melting Arctic ice is also opening potential new shipping lanes.

“I think it’s time for the U.S. to put its footprint back on Greenland,” Landry told Agence France-Presse. “Greenland needs the U.S.”

At the height of the Cold War, the United States operated 17 military facilities in Greenland. Today it maintains only the Pituffik Space Base in the island’s far north. Media reports say Washington is considering opening three additional bases in southern Greenland.

TRUMP GREENLAND POLICY

Trump earlier softened threats to seize Greenland after diplomatic tensions with Denmark, leading to the creation of a joint U.S.-Danish-Greenlandic working group to address security concerns.

However, Landry’s visit stirred controversy because Greenland’s government did not formally invite him. Greenlandic and Danish leaders have repeatedly insisted that only Greenlanders can decide the island’s future.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said talks with the U.S. envoy were “constructive,” but stressed there was “no sign” that Washington had changed its overall position.

In an interview with Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq, Landry also expressed hope for eventual independence from Denmark, saying Greenland had “incredible opportunities” to become economically self-sufficient.

HEALTHCARE VISIT CONTROVERSY

Additional controversy emerged after Landry arrived with a U.S. doctor who said he was assessing Greenland’s medical needs.

Greenland Health Minister Anna Wangenheim sharply criticized the move, saying: “Greenlanders are not guinea pigs in a geopolitical project.”

Denmark and Greenland had earlier rejected a Trump administration proposal to send a U.S. naval hospital ship to the island.

While opinion polls suggest most Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, residents of the island home toabout 57,000 people, remain cautious about rapid change because Greenland’s economy still depends heavily on Danish financial support. Critics of the current government say leaders must balance growing foreign interest in Greenland’s strategic location and natural resources with protecting the island’s sovereignty, culture, and social stability.

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