US special envoy claims Denmark “occupied” Greenland

US special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, appointed on December 22, 2025, said that Denmark occupied Greenland after World War II, bypassing United Nations protocols.”

Writing on his X page, Landry noted that Greenland should treat the United States with “hospitality, not hostility,” Caliber.Az reports.

History matters. The U.S. defended Greenland’s sovereignty during WWII when Denmark couldn’t. After the war, Denmark re-occupied it—side stepping and ignoring UN protocol.

This should be about hospitality, not hostility. @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/2MnIZGQjMU

— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) January 11, 2026

“History matters. The U.S. defended Greenland’s sovereignty during WWII when Denmark couldn’t. After the war, Denmark re-occupied it—side stepping and ignoring UN protocol,” Landry noted.

Greenland is the world’s largest island and a self‑governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. In 2009, it gained extensive autonomy, including the right to pursue full independence, while Denmark continues to control foreign policy and defence.

Its strategic importance comes from its Arctic location, guarding the North Atlantic and the GIUK (Greenland‑Iceland‑United Kingdom) gap, a key route monitored by the US and NATO to track Russian naval movement. 

The United States operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, which provides missile warning and surveillance capabilities, established under the 1951 Greenland Defence Agreement with Denmark.

Climate change is further increasing Greenland’s geopolitical significance by exposing mineral deposits and opening potential northern shipping routes. The island is rich in rare earth elements and other resources essential for technology and defence, attracting global interest, particularly from the US, Russia, and China.

By Jeyhun Aghazada