President Trump has named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his new special envoy to Greenland, and Landry wasted absolutely no time in declaring his ambitious goal: making the autonomous Danish territory “part of the U.S,” as reported by The Hill. That’s a massive, immediate goal for a volunteer position, and if you’re wondering what the international reaction was, you don’t have to wait long.
This entire annexation dream was immediately crushed by the leaders of Denmark and Greenland, who jointly emphasized that taking over another country just isn’t legal. This is going to create a serious diplomatic headache for the administration, especially since the president has been pushing the idea of obtaining the Arctic island for years.
In a strong, joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said, “We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law.” They went on to stress that these principles are fundamental, and you simply “cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”
That’s a firm rejection, and it tells you everything you need to know about the diplomatic reality on the ground
Governor Landry, who is still the sitting Republican governor of Louisiana, made his intentions public on X shortly after the announcement was made. He thanked President Trump for the honor of the special envoy role, which he confirmed is a volunteer position that won’t interfere with his duties back home. He stated that his mission is specifically “to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”
President Trump, in his own announcement post, explained that Landry “understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.” Clearly, the administration views this territory as vital for global security, which is the primary justification for this aggressive diplomatic move.
This isn’t a new idea for the president as he first floated the notion of purchasing Greenland during his first administration, and he certainly ramped up the rhetoric during his 2024 campaign. The argument has always centered on the idea that this territory, which is currently part of Denmark, is absolutely essential for U.S. national security interests. Notably, the administration is ramping up military action against Venezuela, citing similar reasons.
The concern from international partners is understandable, especially considering some of the administration’s past comments. After President Trump took office in January, he didn’t rule out the possibility of using military or economic force to gain control of Greenland, which is obviously an alarming thought. This was after he floated a threat of war against Nigeria.
However, the administration seems to be trying to cool down the most extreme possibilities. The U.S. Space Force already operates a base on the northwest coast of the Arctic island, and Vice President Vance paid a visit there in March. Vance attempted to ease fears, stating that the U.S. is not likely to resort to military force to take over the territory.
Published: Dec 22, 2025 01:30 pm