The US special envoy to Greenland, the Arctic island coveted by President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday that Washington needs to rebuild its presence in the Danish autonomous territory.

At the height of the Cold War, Washington had 17 military facilities in Greenland, but closed them over the years and currently has just one – the Pituffik base in the north of the island.

Trump has repeatedly argued the US needs to control Greenland because of national security concerns, claiming that if it does not, the island risks falling into the hands of China or Russia.

Greenland is on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. It is also believed to have untapped rare earth minerals and could be a vital asset as the polar ice melts and new shipping routes emerge.

“I think it’s time for the US to put its footprint back on Greenland,” US envoy Jeff Landry said as he wound up his first visit to the island since his appointment in December 2025.

“I think that you’re seeing the president talk about increasing national security operations and repopulating certain bases in Greenland,” he said.