Greenland’s former prime minister, Mr Mute B. Egede, will take over as foreign minister, placing a political heavyweight in charge of managing diplomatic relations with the US as President Donald Trump maintains his desire to annex the Arctic territory.
Mr Egede, 39, will take over from Ms Vivian Motzfeldt, who resigned in March after her party left the ruling coalition.
He served as prime minister from 2021 to 2025, navigating Greenland through a period of heightened political strain as Mr Trump returned to power in the US and renewed threats to take control of the island.
The appointment puts Mr Egede in a key position at a critical moment for Greenland’s ties with Washington. Earlier in 2026, Greenland and Denmark entered into negotiations with the US following a framework agreement, but the core dispute remains unresolved as Mr Trump still wants the territory.
Greenland’s current Prime Minister, Mr Jens-Frederik Nielsen, presented his new Cabinet on Tuesday after several departures triggered a reshuffle. Apart from Ms Motzfeldt, Ms Naaja Nathanielsen, the former minister for business and raw materials, exited the cabinet after winning a seat in Denmark’s parliament.
Mr Nielsen succeeded Mr Egede as prime minister after a general election in March 2025 but kept him in a senior role in the new government as finance minister.
Mr Egede will now assume an expanded portfolio as minister for foreign affairs, business and raw materials, combining functions that were previously split. BLOOMBERG