A fresh diplomatic controversy has erupted between the United States and Denmark following former President Donald Trump’s unexpected appointment of a special envoy to Greenland. The move, perceived by Copenhagen as a significant breach of diplomatic protocol, has reignited tensions stemming from Trump’s earlier expressed interest in purchasing the autonomous Danish territory.
According to analysis by the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale, the appointment represents an unconventional approach to foreign policy that has shaken the foundation of U.S.-Denmark relations. The envoy appointment effectively treats Greenland as an independent entity rather than acknowledging its constitutional status as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, creating what Danish officials view as an inappropriate parallel diplomatic channel.
The development recalls Trump’s 2019 proposal to acquire Greenland, which Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the time dismissed as “absurd,” leading to the cancellation of a planned presidential visit. While the current administration has not reiterated the purchase concept, the envoy appointment suggests continued unusual interest in the strategically significant Arctic territory.
Greenland itself possesses substantial mineral resources and growing geopolitical importance due to climate-change expanded Arctic shipping routes. The appointment signals that Greenland remains a focus of American strategic attention regardless of diplomatic conventions, potentially complicating future relations with both Denmark and Greenland’s autonomous government.