THE GUARDIAN: Jeff Landry’s visit has proved controversial, with the territory’s PM saying there was no sign ‘anything has changed’ in the US position
The US special envoy to Greenland has said it’s time for Washington “to put its footprint back” on the Arctic island, as he wound up his first visit to the island since his appointment in December 2025.
Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the US needs to control Greenland – a Danish autonomous territory – because of national security concerns, claiming that if it does not, the island risks falling into the hands of China or Russia.
Greenland is on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the US. It is also believed to have untapped rare-earth minerals and could be a vital asset as the polar ice melts and new shipping routes emerge.
“I think it’s time for the US to put its footprint back on Greenland,” the US envoy Jeff Landry told Agence France-Presse, adding “Greenland needs the US.
“I think that you’re seeing the president talk about increasing national security operations and repopulating certain bases in Greenland,” he said. » | Agence France-Presse | Thursday, May 21, 2026
