“No signs” of changed posture
Greenland warns: Trump wants to take over the Arctic island
May 18, 2026 – 5:56 p.mReading time: 1 min.
After the US special envoy’s visit to Greenland, the government appears disillusioned. American claims to the Arctic island remain unchanged.
After a meeting with US special envoy Jeff Landry, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen sees no change in the US position in the dispute over the Arctic island. Nielsen said on Monday that he spoke to the US envoy “in a positive spirit and with great mutual respect.” The conversation was “constructive,” but there were “no signs” of a change in the US attitude.
“We have unequivocally reiterated that the people of Greenland are not for sale and that Greenlanders have the right to self-determination,” emphasized Nielsen. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede also said the US government had not given up its plan to take over the island. “We have our red lines. The Americans’ position has not changed either,” said the Foreign Minister.
Landry arrived in Greenland on Sunday for a multi-day visit. US President Donald Trump appointed the Republican governor of Louisiana as his special envoy for the Arctic island in December. Since his return to the White House, Trump has repeatedly claimed ownership of Greenland, which belongs to NATO and EU member state Denmark, thereby plunging NATO into a deep crisis.
He withdrew threats of a violent takeover at the end of January after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Instead, the USA, Denmark and Greenland set up a joint working group.
