Denmarksaid Monday it could summon the US ambassador after PresidentDonald Trumpappointed a particular envoy toGreenland, the Danish autonomous territory hehas threatened to annex.
Since returning to theWhite Housein January 2025, Trump has repeatedly mentioned the US wants the resource-rich island for safety causes, and has refused to rule out using pressure to safe it.
Learn moreTrump Jr. touches down in Greenland amid US hypothesis of a territorial seize
On Sunday, Trump appointed the governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as particular envoy to Greenland.
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 submit on his social media platform Fact Social early on Monday, 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 Trump in a submit on X: “It is an honour to serve you on this volunteer place to make Greenland part of the US.”
The Danish international minister informed tv TV2 the appointment and statements had been “completely unacceptable” and mentioned his ministry would name within the US ambassador within the coming days “to get a proof”.
“So long as we have now 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 residence”.
“We’ll decide our future ourselves. Greenland is our nation,” he wrote on Fb, including: “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity have to be revered”.
Strategic location
The overwhelming majority of Greenland’s 57,000 individuals wish to change into unbiased from Denmark, however don’t want to change into a part of the USA, in accordance with a January opinion ballot.
Leaders of each Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the hugeArcticisland will not be on the market and that it’s going to determine its future itself.
“The appointment confirms the continued American curiosity in Greenland,” Lokke Rasmussen mentioned in a press release.
“Nonetheless, we insist that everybody together with the US should present respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Greenland is strategically positioned between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese language and Russian curiosity within the Arctic, the place sea lanes have opened up as a result of ofclimate change.
Greenland’s location additionally places it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the USA.
In August,Denmark summoned the US cost d’affairesafter studies of tried interference in Greenland.
Not less than three US officers near Trump had been noticed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk making an attempt to establish individuals for and in opposition to a rapprochement with the USA.
The US opened a consulate in Greenland in June 2020.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Initially printed on France24
