Denmark and Greenland resumed their criticism of America's interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island after U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland on Dec. 21.
The island's role in national and international security remains important, but its vast mineral wealth has become a key driver of U.S. interest, particularly as China holds near-monopoly power over these resources critical to modern industries.
Trump is calling for Greenland, a self-governing Danish island, to join the United States, citing its strategic significance and mineral wealth. The idea is openly supported by Landry, who became governor of Louisiana in January 2024.
While the U.S. has previously appointed envoys for the entire Arctic region, the newly appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry will be the first special envoy solely for Greenland.
Special envoys are agents appointed as the personal representative of the president or the secretary of state, and are often appointed in response to congressional or public attention to a particular region or issue, according to Ballotpedia, a digital encyclopedia of American politics.
