Copenhagen, Denmark — Denmark mentioned Monday it might 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 pressure to safe it.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as particular envoy to Greenland.
Alex Brandon/AP
Danish International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned Monday he was “deeply angered” by the transfer and warned Washington to respect Denmark’s sovereignty.
In a publish 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 overseas minister instructed tv TV2 the Landry appointment and statements by Mr. Trump and Landry had been “completely unacceptable” and mentioned his ministry would name within the U.S. ambassador in coming days “to get a proof.”
“So long as we’ve a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, we can not 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 “does not change something for us right here at house.”
“We’ll decide our future ourselves. Greenland is our nation,” he wrote on social media, including: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity should be revered.”
The overwhelming majority of Greenland’s 57,000 individuals need to turn into impartial from Denmark however do not want to turn into a part of the U.S, based on 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 determine 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’d like Greenland for nationwide safety,” Mr. Trump mentioned, including, “We now 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 US.
Throughout a go to by Vice President JD Vance to Greenland in March, Mr. Trump instructed reporters on the White Home, “We’d like Greenland, very importantly, for worldwide safety.”
“We now have to have Greenland,” he mentioned. “It isn’t a query of, ‘Do you assume we are able to do with out it?’ We will not.”
In August, Denmark summoned the U.S. cost d’affaires after experiences of tried interference in Greenland.
At the least three U.S. officers near Mr. Trump had been noticed in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk attempting to determine individuals for and towards a rapprochement with the US.
The U.S. opened a consulate in Greenland in June 2020.
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