Fuming Denmark summons US ambassador over Greenland envoy

COPENHAGEN: Denmark said Monday it would summon the US ambassador after President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland, the Danish autonomous territory he has threatened to annex.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly said the US needs the resource-rich island for security reasons and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure it.

On Sunday, Trump appointed the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as special envoy to Greenland.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Monday he was “deeply angered” the move and warned Washington to respect Denmark’s sovereignty.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social early on Monday, Trump said Landry “understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.”

Landry responded directly to Trump in a post on X: “It’s an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.”

The Danish foreign minister told television TV2 the appointment and statements were “totally unacceptable” and said his ministry would call in the US ambassador in the coming days “to get an explanation”.

“As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, we cannot accept that there are those who undermine our sovereignty,” he said.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen meanwhile said the appointment “doesn’t change anything for us here at home”.

“We will determine our future ourselves. Greenland is our country,” he wrote on Facebook, adding: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity must be respected”.

Strategic location

The vast majority of Greenland’s 57,000 people want to become independent from Denmark, but do not wish to become part of the United States, according to a January opinion poll.

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the huge Arctic island is not for sale and that it will decide its future itself.

“The appointment confirms the continued American interest in Greenland,” Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement emailed to AFP.

“However, we insist that everyone -– including the US –- must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

Greenland is strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change.

Greenland’s location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States.

In August, Denmark summoned the US charge d’affaires after reports of attempted interference in Greenland.

At least three US officials close to Trump were observed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk trying to identify people for and against a rapprochement with the United States.

The US opened a consulate in Greenland in June 2020.