Trump's Aide: It's Time for the US to Establish a Foothold in Greenland
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The long-standing ambition of United States President Donald Trump to dominate Greenland has been rekindled after the US special envoy openly stated that Washington should immediately rebuild its military bases in the Danish autonomous territory. The expansionist measure is claimed to be urgently needed for US national security interests to counter Russia and China’s military dominance in the Arctic.
Citing AFP’s report on Thursday (21 May 2026), the US Special Envoy for Greenland, Jeff Landry, stressed the importance of reasserting Washington’s influence on the mineral-rich island. It is noted that the US once had 17 military facilities in Greenland during the Cold War, but now only one active facility remains: the Pituffik air base in the island’s northern region.
“I think this is the time for the US to replant its footprints in Greenland,” said Jeff Landry.
“I think you see the president talking about increasing national security operations and reactivating certain bases in Greenland,” he added.
Landry also added unilateral claims that the Greenland region actually requires the presence of military protection and investment from the United States. Washington’s desire to open three new military bases in the island’s southern region is now under sharp scrutiny, where the 1951 defence pact indeed allows the US to enhance military facilities provided it informs Denmark and Greenland beforehand.
Landry’s visit to Nuuk, the capital, since last Sunday, immediately sparked major controversy and political uproar as the envoy arrived without an official invitation from the local government. Responding to the US manoeuvre, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that although the ambition of a great power to secure control over its territory appeared disrespectful to sovereignty, they remain obliged to seek the best solution.
“Even though the desire of a ‘ruler’ to secure control over Greenland is entirely inappropriate, we are obliged to find a solution,” Nielsen said.
The issue heated further when Landry, in an interview with local media, seemed to provoke independence sentiment by stating that economic cooperation with the US could release Greenland from financial dependence on Denmark. The unrest extended to the health sector after an American doctor accompanying Landry stated his presence was aimed at unilateral assessment of the local residents’ medical needs.
The actions of the US medical team were met with anger from Greenland’s Health Minister Anna Wangenheim, who strongly rejected the idea of her territory being used as a political tool. The policy of sending medical aid from Washington was seen as part of geopolitical tactics after Denmark and Greenland firmly rejected the offer of a hospital ship sent by President Trump.
“Greenlanders are not guinea pigs in a geopolitics project,” said Anna Wangenheim.