His arrival in Denmark, on October 30, in Copenhagen, was considered a dangerous step for Trump, in the Greenland match. Before he officially began work as the new US ambassador to the country, he presented his credentials … To the king Frederick At Christiansborg Palace.
There, in a brief exchange with reporters, Kenneth Howery He commented that his priorities include strengthening defense cooperation and trade relations and working with Denmark on security concerns in the Arctic. “I also really want to meet people and learn about the cultures of the Kingdom, as well as travel… including the Faroe Islands and Greenland,” he said, then backtracked, subtly confirming the Danish government’s concerns.
Relations between Denmark and the United States, long-time allies, have been strained since Trump publicly expressed his ambition to “somehow” seize Greenland, Denmark’s vast, resource-rich Arctic region, citing security concerns.
Danish Prime Minister, Mette FrederiksenOn a visit to Greenland last April, he made a direct appeal to Washington and warned in English that “you cannot annex another country’s territory, not even with an argument about security.” He made it clear that Denmark would resist.
In August, his foreign minister summoned the then head of the US mission, angered by intelligence reports that confirmed the existence of secret influence operations carried out by US citizens in Greenland, with the aim of stirring opposition to the Danish government there. Now profile Kenneth Howery It allows us a glimpse at the next step in Washington’s strategy, by a thin thread and the latest generation.
Diplomacy is “made in” Silicon Valley
Ken, as the US president refers to him, represents a new generation of diplomats: technology experts with a global vision, financial connections and a business backpack. Born in Texas in 1975, he studied economics at Stanford University and met there Peter Thiel. Together they founded PayPal in 1998, one of the leading digital payments platforms.
Howery was instrumental in the initial expansion of the company, which was later acquired by eBay. Later, the current ambassador co-founded Founders Fund, a venture capital firm that backs giants such as Facebook, SpaceX, and Palantir.
His career in Silicon Valley has given him a global view of innovation, technology geopolitics and business leadership. He has been recognized as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum and did not come to Denmark specifically to retire, but for the sake of Taking another step in its expansion path.
Danish representatives saw the matter in this way, and after long hours of discussion, they were able to approve the appointment of the new ambassador just before midnight on October 7 in a vote in the Senate that resulted in 51 votes in favor and 47 against. His hesitation, according to sources present at the discussion, centered on the fact that he was seen as more than just A.J Venture capital investor From the traditional diplomat.
During Trump’s first term, between 2019 and 2021, he was ambassador to Sweden. There he strengthened bilateral agreements on cybersecurity and polar exploration, and facilitated exchanges between Swedish and American startups.
He organized barbecue parties at which he personally took care of giving the perfect point to meat expressly brought from Texas and to which he invited, in a very informal context, all kinds of businessmen and investors.
It is not yet clear where it will be based in Copenhagen, considering that the palace at Strandvejen 259, which served as the US ambassador’s residence for decades, is under construction. There aren’t many properties in the Danish capital that can match Howery’s million-dollar home along the Colorado River in Austin, which is about 8,000 square feet.
“Modern diplomacy cannot ignore technology. “Ambassadors must understand how innovation changes our international relations.”
Although there is no confirmed address, the new ambassador is wasting no time waiting and has begun meeting with business leaders, researchers and Danish government representatives. Its goal is to position the embassy as a bridge between American innovation and Danish priorities in the areas of sustainability, defense, and digital transformation.
“Modern diplomacy cannot ignore technology. “Ambassadors must understand how innovation is transforming our international relations,” he explains to his interlocutors, to whom he promises to facilitate the entry of Danish technology companies into the American market. Having the key to the American market, in the current commercial context, undoubtedly makes it possible to make friends and buy wills.
In the Arctic, he proposes joint initiatives in climate research, Polar infrastructure and maritime security. He has publicly defended the need for a greater American presence in the region, citing climate change and Russian influence as strategic arguments and challenges.
His direct, pragmatic style, more typical of a chief executive than an ambassador, dissipates as soon as territorial sovereignty is mentioned, an issue where it becomes ambiguous and tricky. He avoids confirming or denying Trump’s plans and repeats that “the people of Greenland have the right to choose their future.”
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