On May 19, Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, whom Trump appointed as a special envoy to "advance American control" over Greenland, flew to Nuuk. He described his mission modestly himself: "to listen and learn". After negotiations with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Foreign Minister Mute Egede, the Greenlandic government released a position that sounds like progress only if you read carefully between the lines.
What was said — and what wasn't
According to Nielsen, negotiations are moving forward — but exclusively within red lines: annexation, absorption, or the purchase of the island are unacceptable. Formally, this is a repetition of the March 2025 position, when five parties of the Greenlandic parliament jointly called American claims "unacceptable to NATO allies."
"We are looking for a solution that is good for all of us, and first and foremost one in which there will be no annexation, absorption, or purchase of Greenland and the Greenlandic people"
— Prime Minister of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen after a meeting with Landry, according to Reuters
Foreign Minister Egede added a practical detail: a three-way working group of the USA — Greenland — Denmark "looks more promising than before." This structure is the actual negotiating platform, rather than public statements after meetings.
Context that changes everything
Nielsen came to power after March elections, where his "Democrats" party received 30% of votes — partly on a wave of anti-Trump sentiment. According to polls from early 2025, 85% of Greenlanders do not want to become part of the United States.
But there is a nuance: Nielsen is a supporter of independence from Denmark, not of any rapprochement with the USA. His coalition partner "Naleraq" openly believes that Trump's pressure accelerates the process of gaining independence. That is, Washington, without obtaining sovereignty, may get what it really wants: an island without Danish patronage and access to rare earth resources.
- Greenland ranks 8th in the world in rare earth reserves — 1.5 million tons
- The Kvanefjord and Tanbreez deposits are among the largest in the world
- In 2019, the United States signed a memorandum on joint development of resources; the deadline expires
- The American Export-Import Bank has already sent a letter expressing interest in a $120 million loan for the Tanbreez mine
In parallel with negotiations, US Ambassador to Denmark Ken Howery — also present in the delegation — was to open a new US consulate in Nuuk and participate in a business fair. Infrastructure presence is growing regardless of the diplomatic text.
Where the real line is drawn
Greenland does not object to cooperation with the USA — it objects specifically to the format of imposition. Trump, according to CBC News, claimed that Russia or China would "soon seize" the island — regional experts reject this thesis. But it is this rhetoric that forces Nuuk to balance: refusing Washington too sharply means being left without a strategic partner in the Arctic.
The working group is to prepare a report. Until it exists — all "progress" remains gestures, not commitments.
If Nielsen announces a date for a referendum on independence from Denmark before the working group report is published — it will mean that Nuuk chose a strategy: to gain sovereignty before the USA manages to set conditions for a deal.
