Trump announces he’s appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as US special envoy to Greenland
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump announced his appointment to the post Sunday Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry will serve as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, a large, semi-autonomous region of Denmark that Trump has said the U.S. should take over.
“Jeff understands how important Greenland is to our National Security and will strongly advance our Nation’s Interests for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Allies and indeed the World,” Trump said in announcing the appointment. he said.
In the first months of his return to the White House, Trump repeatedly called for the United States to assert jurisdiction over Greenland and did not rule out using military force to seize control of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island.
This issue had been out of the headlines in recent months, but in August Danish officials summoned the US ambassador It follows a report that at least three people with ties to Trump were running covert influence operations in Greenland.
Earlier this year, Vice President J.D. Vance visited a remote control. US military base on the island and Accused Denmark of insufficient investment There.
Trump said Greenland is vital to US security and did not rule out the possibility seize the island by military forceAlthough Denmark is a NATO ally of the USA
Landry took office as governor in January 2024. His term ends in January 2028.
In a post on X on Sunday, Landry called the appointment “an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland part of the United States.” This does not affect my position as Governor of Louisiana in any way!
US NATO allies Denmark and Greenland said the island was not for sale and condemned reports that the US was collecting intelligence there. Russia and most of Europe also oppose US pressure on Greenland.
The Danish Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Landry’s appointment.
The United States uses its economic power to “assert its will” and threaten military force against friend and foe alike, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service said in a report released earlier this month.
Washington’s more assertiveness under Trump comes as China and Russia seek to reduce the influence of the West, especially America, the service said in its annual review.
“The strategic importance of the Arctic is increasing as the conflict between Russia and the West intensifies, and the United States’ increased security and strategic focus on the Arctic will further accelerate these developments,” the report said.
