President Donald Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has begun his first visit to the Arctic island in a bid to build ties and make 'friends'. 'I'm here simply to build relationships, to look, to listen and to learn,' Landry said after stepping off an official US plane in Greenland's capital Nuuk on Monday.
However, Landry's visit has touched a nerve, with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterating that his country is 'not for sale' and some Greenlanders giving Landry the cold shoulder. The visit comes amid efforts to resolve a diplomatic crisis sparked by Trump when he threatened to seize Greenland by force.
Accompanied by a small entourage, Landry, who is also the Governor of Louisiana, traveled for a business summit and will attend the opening of a new US consulate building. An American doctor traveling with him, who volunteered 'to assess the medical needs' in Greenland, has faced criticism from the country's Health Minister, Anna Wangenheim, who called the move 'deeply problematic'.
Since being appointed to the envoy role in December 2025, Landry stated that the US president told him to 'go over there, and make a bunch of friends'. His tour of the capital included meetings with business leaders and a former mayor, yet it remains contentious as he visits without an official invite amidst delicate high-stakes talks between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
Despite maintaining a conciliatory tone, past US threats have weighed heavily on Greenland's population of 57,000, making Landry's mission an uphill battle. Greenlanders express distrust and skepticism about the real motives behind US diplomacy, given the recent past. With both the US Ambassador and Landry present, Nielsen emphasized the right to self-determination for Greenlanders, illustrating the complex relationship that continues to develop in this geopolitically sensitive region.
However, Landry's visit has touched a nerve, with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterating that his country is 'not for sale' and some Greenlanders giving Landry the cold shoulder. The visit comes amid efforts to resolve a diplomatic crisis sparked by Trump when he threatened to seize Greenland by force.
Accompanied by a small entourage, Landry, who is also the Governor of Louisiana, traveled for a business summit and will attend the opening of a new US consulate building. An American doctor traveling with him, who volunteered 'to assess the medical needs' in Greenland, has faced criticism from the country's Health Minister, Anna Wangenheim, who called the move 'deeply problematic'.
Since being appointed to the envoy role in December 2025, Landry stated that the US president told him to 'go over there, and make a bunch of friends'. His tour of the capital included meetings with business leaders and a former mayor, yet it remains contentious as he visits without an official invite amidst delicate high-stakes talks between the US, Denmark, and Greenland.
Despite maintaining a conciliatory tone, past US threats have weighed heavily on Greenland's population of 57,000, making Landry's mission an uphill battle. Greenlanders express distrust and skepticism about the real motives behind US diplomacy, given the recent past. With both the US Ambassador and Landry present, Nielsen emphasized the right to self-determination for Greenlanders, illustrating the complex relationship that continues to develop in this geopolitically sensitive region.
