Greenland: the United States believe it is time to leave their mark on the autonomous Danish territory

Jeff Landry, the American commissioner to Greenland, the Arctic territory coveted by President Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday, May 20 to AFP that the United States should strengthen their presence in this Danish autonomous territory. “I think it’s time for the United States to leave their footprint on Greenland. I think you see the President talking about strengthening national security operations and assigning personnel to certain bases in Greenland,” he said after his first visit to Greenland since his appointment in December 2025.

The United States currently only has one military base in Greenland, compared to 17 military installations at the height of the Cold War. Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should control Greenland for national security reasons, stating that if the US does not control it, the territory could fall into the hands of China or Russia.

Context: Donald Trump expressed a desire for the United States to acquire Greenland due to its strategic location and resources.

Fact Check: The United States has one military base in Greenland, not 17 as during the Cold War.

In an effort to find a solution, Greenland sits on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. It holds untapped deposits of rare earth elements and could play a crucial role as polar ice melts and new maritime routes emerge. The US aims to open three new bases in the southern part of the territory, according to recent reports.

A defense pact from 1951, updated in 2004, allows Washington to increase troop deployments and military installations in Greenland, with prior notification to Denmark and Greenland. In January, the American president backed down from threats to take over Greenland, and a US-Danish-Greenland task force was established to address concerns.

Even though the desire of the “master” to “secure control of Greenland (…) is completely disrespectful (…), we are obliged to find a solution,” said Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen to journalists on the sidelines of an economic forum on Greenland on Tuesday, May 19.

Jeff Landry, also the Republican governor of Louisiana (southeastern United States), arrived in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Sunday without an official invitation, sparking controversy in the Danish territory. The American commissioner met with Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Mute Egede, on Monday.

The Prime Minister stated that the discussions were “constructive,” but emphasized that there was “no sign (…) that anything had changed” in the US position.