US envoy urges military rebuild in Greenland amid diplomatic friction
Washington seeks to expand its footprint from one base to three, drawing sharp rebuke from Greenlandic officials who reject the notion of being used as geopolitical pawns.
US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry has called for a significant restoration of American military infrastructure on the Arctic island, stating that Washington must "put its footprint back on Greenland." Landry, who also serves as the governor of Louisiana, told AFP on Wednesday that President Donald Trump is focused on increasing national security operations and repopulating bases that were closed following the Cold War.
During the height of the Cold War, the United States operated 17 military facilities across the territory. Today, only one remains: the Pituffik base in the north. However, recent media reports indicate that Washington intends to open three new bases in the south of the island, a move that would substantially alter the strategic landscape of the region.
Landry arrived in Nuuk on Sunday for an uninvited visit, sparking immediate controversy among local and Danish officials. He met with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Foreign Minister Mute Egede on Monday. While Nielsen described the discussions as constructive, he noted there was no indication that the United States had altered its position regarding the island’s sovereignty or strategic importance.
The envoy’s presence was further complicated by the accompaniment of a US doctor, who stated his role was to assess medical needs in the territory. This gesture drew sharp criticism from Greenlandic Health Minister Anna Wangenheim, who rejected previous US offers of medical assistance, asserting that Greenlanders are not "guinea pigs in a geopolitical project."
Landry also used an interview with the Greenlandic daily newspaper Sermitsiaq to suggest that the United States would support Greenland’s economic independence from Denmark. He argued that there are opportunities to lift the territory from dependency, a sentiment that aligns with President Trump’s long-standing view that US control is vital to prevent China or Russia from gaining influence in the Arctic.
Despite the strategic arguments, the political reality remains complex. A 1951 defence pact, updated in 2004, allows Washington to ramp up troop deployments provided it informs Denmark and Greenland in advance. However, Greenlandic officials have consistently maintained that only the territory can decide its own future, rejecting external pressures to alter its status.
