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US envoy arrives in Greenland on goodwill mission
Jeff Landry, Donald Trump's special envoy to Greenland, landed in Nuuk on Monday, marking his first visit to the Arctic territory as he seeks to rebuild relations strained by the US president's past remarks.
Landry, who also serves as Louisiana's governor, described his trip as an effort to "build relationships, look, listen, and learn." Speaking to reporters after disembarking from an official US aircraft, he emphasized a conciliatory tone, though his presence has reignited sensitivities among Greenlandic leaders and residents.
Greenland reiterates sovereignty amid US pressure
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirmed the territory's stance during a meeting with Landry and US Ambassador to Denmark Ken Howery on Monday, stating, "The people of Greenland are not for sale, and Greenlanders have the right to self-determination."
Nielsen acknowledged the "good tone" of the discussions but stressed that no parallel negotiations would occur while high-level talks between the US, Denmark, and Greenland continue. Greenland's Foreign Minister Mute Egede later told Agence France-Presse that the US had not abandoned its ambitions regarding the territory, adding, "We have our red line. The Americans' starting point has not changed either."
Controversial visit sparks local backlash
Landry's trip, which lacks an official invitation, has drawn criticism from Greenlandic officials and citizens. Maliina Abelsen, a former politician and businesswoman, declined a meeting with the envoy, stating, "I don't like how you try to bypass diplomacy and walk in the front door." She argued the timing was inappropriate, given recent tensions.
Aqqaluk Lynge, a former president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, expressed deep-seated distrust, saying, "The sad thing is we have had a beautiful relationship with the people in the US, especially with the indigenous people."
Landry's delegation includes an American doctor who volunteered to assess Greenland's medical needs-a move criticized by Health Minister Anna Wangenheim as "deeply problematic." The visit also coincides with the opening of a new US consulate in Nuuk, a modern high-rise dubbed "Trump Towers" by some locals.
US shifts tactics but goals remain unclear
Rasmus Sinding Søndergaard, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute of International Studies, suggested Landry's approach reflects a strategic shift. "The approach now is to try and befriend people, rather than coerce them," he said.
Landry himself downplayed questions about Trump's intentions, telling the BBC, "You'll have to talk to the president yourself." He framed the visit as a long-overdue US engagement, stating, "Before Donald Trump, the United States was ignoring Greenland. Greenland didn't exist until Donald Trump put it on the map."
Despite the softer rhetoric, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, a Greenlandic MP, warned that Landry's mission remained tied to broader US objectives. "Landry is tasked to help the president acquire Greenland. That is a reason why he's here to 'listen' and visit, and that in itself is still very serious," she said.
Diplomatic impasse persists
The visit unfolds against the backdrop of a diplomatic crisis triggered by Trump's 2025 threat to seize Greenland by force. While the US later ruled out military action, a working group was established to address the dispute. However, no agreement has been reached, and the US continues to push for an expanded military presence in the region.
Landry will attend the opening of the new US consulate on Thursday, though some Greenlandic officials, including Nathanielsen, have declined to participate. The event underscores the fragile state of relations as all parties navigate the delicate balance between cooperation and sovereignty.
