US envoy says America will take Greenland through military presence and trade

Donald Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has reiterated that the United States will take control of the territory, outlining how Washington plans to achieve it.

In a 30 June interview on the conservative US podcast The Alex Marlow Show, Landry said he had discussed the plan with Trump the previous Saturday. When asked by host Alex Marlow, “When do we get Greenland?”, Landry replied: “I think we’re going to get it. I really do. We have a good shot, and I’ve laid some things out for the president.”

Pressed on how the US would acquire Greenland—“With a land invasion?”—Landry said: “No, I think we’re going to get it by actually sending more military personnel to Greenland to repopulate our bases; by creating a direct shipping route between the US and Greenland; direct air routes to Greenland; and by opening up more trade with Greenland.”

Landry, who visited Nuuk in May, has previously suggested Greenland could become the 51st US state. In a social media post marking Greenland’s national day in June, he wrote: “As the US approaches its 250th anniversary of independence, we join in celebrating freedom and opportunity. Perhaps America’s 251st birthday can be celebrated with the addition of the country’s 51st state!”

Greenland’s foreign minister, Muté B. Egede, rejected the idea: “The future will be decided here in Greenland, and we have said from the start: we will not be Americans, and we will not be Danes. We are Greenlanders.”

Danish public broadcaster DR reported it is seeking comment from the Danish foreign ministry.