Copenhagen, Denmark — Denmark mentioned Monday it could summon the U.S. ambassador after President Trump appointed a particular envoy to Greenland, the Danish autonomous territory he has typically expressed curiosity in acquiring.
Since returning to the White Home in January 2025, Mr. Trump has mentioned the U.S. wants the resource-rich island for safety causes and has refused to rule out using drive to safe it.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as particular envoy to Greenland.
Alex Brandon/AP
Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned Monday he was “deeply angered” by the transfer and warned Washington to respect Denmark’s sovereignty.
In a submit on social media platform Sunday night time, Mr. Trump mentioned Landry “understands how important Greenland is to our Nationwide Safety, and can strongly advance our Nation’s Pursuits for the Security, Safety, and Survival of our Allies, and certainly, the World.”
Landry responded on to Mr. Trump on social media, saying, “It is an honor to serve you on this volunteer place to make Greenland part of the U.S.”
The Danish international minister advised tv TV2 the Landry appointment and statements by Mr. Trump and Landry have been “completely unacceptable” and mentioned his ministry would name within the U.S. ambassador in coming days “to get an evidence.”
“So long as we now have a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, we can’t settle for that there are those that undermine our sovereignty,” he mentioned.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in the meantime mentioned the appointment “would not change something for us right here at residence.”
“We are going to decide our future ourselves. Greenland is our nation,” he wrote on social media, including: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity have to be revered.”
The overwhelming majority of Greenland’s 57,000 folks wish to develop into unbiased from Denmark however do not want to develop into a part of the U.S, in line with a January opinion ballot.
Leaders of each Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the massive Arctic island is not on the market and that it’ll resolve its future itself.
“The appointment confirms the continued American curiosity in Greenland,” Lokke Rasmussen mentioned in a press release emailed to AFP.
“Nonetheless, we insist that everybody — together with the U.S. — should present respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
On Monday, the president mentioned the U.S. wants Greenland.
“We want Greenland for nationwide safety,” Mr. Trump mentioned, including, “Now we have to have it.”
Greenland’s location, minerals put it in focus
Greenland is strategically positioned between North America and Europe at a time of rising U.S., Chinese language and Russian curiosity within the Arctic, the place sea lanes have opened up due to local weather change.
Greenland’s location additionally places it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the USA.
Throughout a go to by Vice President JD Vance to Greenland in March, Mr. Trump advised reporters on the White Home, “We want Greenland, very importantly, for worldwide safety.”
“Now we have to have Greenland,” he mentioned. “It isn’t a query of, ‘Do you suppose we are able to do with out it?’ We won’t.”
In August, Denmark summoned the U.S. cost d’affaires after reviews of tried interference in Greenland.
Not less than three U.S. officers near Mr. Trump have been noticed in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk making an attempt to establish folks for and towards a rapprochement with the USA.
The U.S. opened a consulate in Greenland in June 2020.
