Greenland’s prosperity depends on Trump, US envoy says

Jeff Landry, the US special envoy to Greenland, said the territory’s prosperity depends on decisions made by President Donald Trump. Landry made the statement in a DR interview before returning to the United States on Thursday.

Landry, who is also Republican governor of Louisiana, arrived in Nuuk on Sunday on a mission assigned by Trump to build new friendships. Asked whether that mission had succeeded, Landry said one can never have enough friends and that he met a broad range of people who expressed desire for closer ties with the US. He said no one told him they did not want the US present.

Regarding criticism of his visit, Landry questioned whether the small groups of protesters represent the majority of Greenlanders. He said he did not believe they do, based on the people he spoke to.

Landry said he will report to Trump that the president had put Greenland on the map by highlighting it since 2016, and that previous US administrations had neglected the territory. He added: “I will tell him that Greenland’s prosperity depends on him — on the decisions he makes.”

When asked whether some Greenlanders were offended by the US tone, Landry said he pays little attention to what people say about him and that people should judge him by his actions. He described Trump as a man of action who wants to bring the same prosperity to Greenland as to Americans, starting with security.

On the question of US intentions to take over Greenland, Landry said the mission is to bring the territory under the Monroe Doctrine in a positive way for Greenland. He noted that not everyone he spoke to said no to a closer relationship. Asked whether this is done with full respect for Greenlandic sovereignty, Landry said he does not know if Greenland currently has sovereignty and