President Donald Trump has mentioned the USA needs Greenland for its “nationwide safety” after naming Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as particular envoy to the Danish Arctic island, prompting protests from Copenhagen.
“We want Greenland for nationwide safety, not for minerals,” Trump informed reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday, including that Landry would “lead the cost”.
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Landry mentioned he would make the Arctic territory “part of the US”.
The feedback drew sharp rebukes from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“You can not annex one other nation … Not even with an argument about worldwide safety,” they mentioned in a joint assertion. “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland,” they added.
Since Trump returned to the White Home in January, he has commented on a number of events about his need for the mineral-rich island, a requirement Denmark and plenty of different European nations have steadfastly rejected.
So, what does Trump sending an envoy imply for Greenland, and will he reach buying it?
Why is Trump saying Greenland is ‘important’ to US nationwide safety?
The US president insisted that the resource-rich island is “important” for safety causes, fairly than for its mineral sources.
“In case you check out Greenland, you search for and down the coast, you may have Russian and Chinese language ships far and wide,” he mentioned on Monday, whereas including that the US has “many websites for minerals and oil”.
Trump’s curiosity in Greenland is just not new.
Throughout his first time period as US president from 2017 to 2021, he mooted the concept of shopping for the island from Denmark. Trump then postponed a 2019 go to to the Nordic nation after Danish PM Frederiksen slammed the concept.
He has refused to rule out using army pressure to grab management, noting in March that the US would “go so far as we’ve to”.
Geographically a part of North America, Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, lies about 2,900km (1,800 miles) from New York – nearer than it’s to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, which is located roughly 3,500km (2,174 miles) to the east.
The semi-autonomous territory has a inhabitants of 57,000 individuals.
Why has Trump despatched an ‘envoy’ to Greenland – what does that signify?
On Sunday, the US president appointed Louisiana Governor Landry as particular envoy to Greenland, prompting anger from Copenhagen, which summoned the US ambassador to elucidate the choice.
Following the announcement, Landry mentioned it might be an honour to serve in a job meant to “make Greenland part of the US”, additional amplifying Denmark’s considerations concerning the White Home’s intentions.
Taking to his social media platform Reality Social, Trump mentioned Landry is conscious “how important Greenland is” for US nationwide safety.
Marc Jacobsen, a professor on the Royal Danish Defence School in Denmark, mentioned whereas Trump is “clearly critical” about his curiosity in Greenland, it’s unlikely he would attempt to take it by pressure.
“However we actually see makes an attempt to realize affect via different channels corresponding to strategic investments and pushing narratives that painting Denmark as a nasty accomplice,” Jacobsen informed Al Jazeera.
“The appointment of Jeff Landry as particular envoy and Tom Dans because the chief of the US Arctic Analysis Fee ought to be seen as new parts on this technique,” he added.
How have Greenlanders responded to this newest transfer?
Lokke Rasmussen, the overseas minister of Denmark, mentioned Trump’s appointment of Landry confirmed continued US curiosity in Greenland.
“Nonetheless, we insist that everybody – together with the US – should present respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he informed the AFP information company.
On Monday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Nielsen mentioned Greenland is pleasant in direction of Washington and that “they know there isn’t a impediment to the USA rising safety within the Arctic on Greenlandic territory if they want to take action.
“However going from that to pressuring to take over a rustic that’s populated and has its personal sovereignty is just not acceptable,” Nielsen informed the every day Sermitsiaq.
Individuals in Greenland broadly favour elevated independence from Denmark – however not the switch of sovereignty to the US.
In 2009, Denmark granted Greenland intensive self-governing powers, together with the suitable to pursue independence from Denmark by way of a referendum.
In August, Denmark summoned the US cost d’affaires after a minimum of three officers linked to former President Trump have been noticed in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, gauging native sentiment on strengthening ties with the US.
In March, US Vice President JD Vance and his spouse, Usha Vance, have been accompanied by White Home Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz and US Secretary of Power Chris Wright on a tour of the US’s Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland “to obtain a briefing on Arctic safety points and meet with US service members”, in keeping with an announcement launched by Vance’s workplace.
Nonetheless, Greenland’s performing head of presidency, Mute Egede, wrote in a web based publish on the time that Greenland had not in actual fact prolonged any invitation for an official or non-public go to.
In response to Landry’s announcement, European Union Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa mentioned Arctic safety was and can stay a “key precedence” for the EU, “one wherein we search to work with allies and companions”.
“Territorial integrity and sovereignty are elementary ideas of worldwide legislation. These ideas are important not just for the European Union, however for nations all over the world,” they mentioned on X.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France’s backing for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each Denmark and Greenland.
He mentioned Greenland “belongs to its individuals” and Denmark “serves as its guarantor”.
Why is Greenland strategic for the US?
Trump has repeatedly emphasised that the Arctic’s strategic geography – significantly Greenland’s place between North America and Europe – is vital to US defence and international safety pursuits.
Its location, providing the shortest route from North America to Europe, would give Washington leverage for its army and its ballistic missile early-warning system.
The US can also be excited about putting radars within the waters that join Greenland, Iceland and the UK. These waters are a gateway for Russian and Chinese language ships, which the US desires to trace.
The island additionally hosts the Pituffik House Base, a serious US army set up used for surveillance and missile warning operations.
What mineral sources does Greenland have?
Trump has denied that its mineral wealth is the true cause he’s so excited about Greenland. Nonetheless, it’s wealthy in mineral sources crucial for the manufacturing of recent applied sciences, together with rare-earth parts for electronics and clear vitality, in addition to uranium, zinc and different base metals.
It additionally holds potential oil and gasoline deposits, although their extraction is restricted. Surveys point out that Greenland comprises a considerable share of the crucial uncooked supplies recognized by the EU.
Which different nations are scrambling for positions within the Arctic and why?
A number of nations have turn out to be more and more lively within the Arctic lately.
Local weather change and a quickly melting ice sheet are the primary causes the Arctic has turn out to be a geopolitical hotspot.
The Arctic is heating at a price 4 instances sooner than the worldwide common, rising its accessibility for maritime commerce routes and useful resource exploration – together with by non-Arctic nations in addition to these with an Arctic presence.
China has deployed vessels able to serving each army surveillance and analysis features within the area. The needs are to gather information and safe entry to sources and delivery lanes, that are rising on account of melting ice.
Final yr, Canada unveiled a 37-page safety coverage detailing plans to boost its army and diplomatic presence within the Arctic, citing threats posed by rising Russian and Chinese language exercise.
In recent times, Russia has expanded its naval presence, deploying missile methods and ramping up weapons testing within the Arctic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has additionally famous Trump’s curiosity within the area.
Throughout an tackle on the Worldwide Arctic Discussion board within the Russian metropolis of Murmansk, the most important metropolis throughout the Arctic circle, earlier this yr, Putin mentioned he believed Trump was critical about taking Greenland and that the US would proceed its efforts to accumulate it.
“It could look stunning solely at first look, and it might be mistaken to consider that that is some type of extravagant speak by the present US administration,” mentioned Putin, including that he expects the US to proceed to “systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and financial pursuits within the Arctic”.
Putin additionally expressed considerations about Russia’s neighbours, Finland and Sweden – each of which have borders contained in the Arctic circle – becoming a member of NATO, the transatlantic army alliance between North America and Europe. Finland joined NATO in 2023, and Sweden joined in 2024.
“Russia has by no means threatened anybody within the Arctic, however we are going to intently observe the developments and mount an applicable response by rising our army functionality and modernising army infrastructure,” Putin mentioned.
May the US take Greenland by pressure?
Jacobsen mentioned if the US have been to invade Greenland, it might imply the top of the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO).
Denmark and the US are founding members of NATO, a European and North American army alliance based in 1949.
“On a private stage for Trump, it might additionally imply the top of any ambitions for getting a peace prize, which he has strived for therefore lengthy,” Jacobsen informed Al Jazeera.
“All his efforts to finish the wars in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine and elsewhere would don’t have any impact to this finish.”
Jacobsen added that there are nonetheless “affordable individuals in the suitable positions” who would pull the “handbrake on such an unreasonable thought like invading Greenland”.
“I really don’t consider it’ll occur,” he added.
