The Saga of Trump and Greenland continues with a new episode.
The last time I wrote about Greenland, the Danes had begun investing more money and interest in their semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. This was after the Greenlanders had voted for independent-minded leadership that also apparently rejected the advances of President Donald Trump’s team to partner more closely with our country.
However, Trump remains very interested in the Arctic island, for both American military strategy and potential natural resources. Therefore, he has named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to Greenland. Landry will continue as governor.
“I am pleased to announce that I am appointing the GREAT Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as the United States Special Envoy to Greenland,” Trump said through a post to his social media network Truth Social.“Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World,” the president wrote.Landry will remain Louisiana governor while serving in his new role for Trump.“This in no way affects my role as governor of Louisiana!” he posted on the social media platform X.
This is a most intriguing appointment, as it is clear that Trump appears to be applying the Monroe Doctrine northward as well as southward.
“Russian subs would circle Greenland. The Chinese would pluck rare earths out of the Western Hemisphere. Then all of a sudden, we have the election of President Donald Trump. He comes in and says, you know what? The Monroe Doctrine is a real thing!””We need to protect America’s interests in those countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere. And again, Europe’s just ignoring Greenland!””We care about them. We’re the fastest security route to give them the security and the protection. It’s about an hour away from the United States. Three to four hours from the European continent.”
America’s liberals are in hysterics at this move. After all, per The New York Times, Landry is a foreign policy novice and a Trump loyalist.
In June, Mr. Landry led a state delegation to the International Paris Air Show, the world’s largest aerospace and aviation event, “to strengthen economic ties, attract new investment and showcase the state’s growing role in global industries,” according to his office.But when it comes to dealing with the Danish government, it’s hard to find anything on Mr. Landry’s résumé that relates to the matter.Mr. Trump, though, has a history of tapping people close to him to manage priorities in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and a handful of other issues.
The appointment is fascinating, indicating that Trump has not forgotten his plans to develop closer ties with Greenland. Appointing a Special Envoy appears to be laying the groundwork for a more robust American presence on the island.
Special envoys are agents appointed as the personal representative of the president or the secretary of state, and are often appointed in response to congressional or public attention to a particular region or issue, according to Ballotpedia, a digital encyclopedia of American politics.Envoys are specifically made to function above the normal scope of an ambassador, serving as high-level, focused representatives for complicated subjects like regional wars or global concerns. There is no predetermined number of special envoys because they are a response to an administration’s demands, Ballotpedia said.
Back in Denmark, pearls are being clutched, and the U.S. Ambassador has been called in for a “discussion“.
“President Trump’s announcement about the appointment of a special envoy to Greenland – and in particular its statements about the purpose hereby – is completely unacceptable,” Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Monday in a Facebook post, which was translated by the social platform.“That’s why we are now convening the US ambassador to the Department of State for a discussion.”Landry was named by Trump on Sunday as his special envoy to Greenland, a territory owned by Denmark which Trump previously has sought to acquire as part of the United States.
In conclusion, unless the map of the Arctic changes significantly due to a seismic event, I suspect that the Trump administration will continue to give Greenland all the attention that it warrants…with or without Denmark’s approval.
I must admit, I am a little sorry not to have been asked to fill this role.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY