Danish Foreign Minister to Summon US Ambassador Over Greenland Envoy Appointment

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced plans to meet with US Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery in response to US President Donald Trump appointing a special envoy to Greenland. Trump’s selection of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the US special envoy to Greenland has stirred diplomatic tensions in Copenhagen. Rasmussen expressed strong disapproval of the envoy’s remarks about incorporating Greenland into the United States, deeming it unacceptable. He emphasized the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, noting the continued American interest in the Arctic island. The situation escalated when Landry, in a social media post, expressed gratitude to Trump for the appointment and stated his intention to work towards making Greenland a part of the US. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen emphasized the need for the US to respect Denmark’s territorial integrity, stating that annexing other countries, even under the guise of international security, is not permissible. They reiterated that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US should not seek to take control of the territory. Trump has previously voiced interest in acquiring Greenland and has not ruled out using military or economic pressure to achieve this objective. Greenland, a former Danish colony, has been an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1953, with increased autonomy granted in 1979 while Denmark retains control over foreign affairs and defense.