The leaders of Denmark and Greenland have firmly insisted the US is not going to take over the Arctic territory, demanding respect for his or her territorial integrity following President Donald Trump’s appointment of a particular envoy.
Mr Trump’s Sunday announcement, naming Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry because the US particular envoy, has reignited tensions over Washington’s curiosity within the huge, semi-autonomous Danish territory, a NATO ally.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen introduced he would summon the US ambassador to Copenhagen, expressing explicit dismay at Mr Landry’s endorsement of Trump’s goal.
In a joint assertion, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, declared: “We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law.”
“They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland,” they added within the assertion, emailed by Frederiksen’s workplace. “We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed a want for Greenland, a largely self-governing Danish territory, to change into a part of the United States, citing safety considerations and its beneficial mineral assets. Governor Landry has publicly supported this controversial concept.
Donald Trump said on Truth Social: “Jeff 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.”
The White House didn’t reply instantly to requests for remark.
Landry, who took workplace as Louisiana governor in January 2024, thanked Trump on X, saying: “It’s an honor to serve … in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S. This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!”
Danish consternation
Greenland and Denmark have constantly rejected that concept.
Lokke Rasmussen informed Denmark’s TV 2: “I am deeply upset by this appointment of a special envoy. And I am particularly upset by his statements, which we find completely unacceptable.”
Earlier, in an emailed assertion to Reuters, Lokke Rasmussen mentioned: “We insist that everyone including the U.S. must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen mentioned in a submit on Facebook: “We have woken up again to a new announcement from the U.S. president. This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us. We decide our own future.”
Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, mentioned the appointment of a U.S. envoy was not in itself an issue.
“The problem is that he’s been given the task of taking over Greenland or making Greenland part of the United States, and there’s no desire for that in Greenland,” Chemnitz informed Reuters.
“There is a desire to respect the future that a majority in Greenland wants, namely to remain their own country and develop their independence over time.”
Seeking to mitigate tensions with the Trump administration over the previous yr, Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States, has centered on strengthening Greenland’s defence to handle U.S. criticisms about insufficient safety.
Greenland, a former Danish colony and residential to solely round 57,000 folks, has held the precise to declare independence from Denmark since 2009.
Its economic system depends closely on fishing and subsidies from Copenhagen, and the island sits strategically alongside the shortest route between Europe and North America, a significant location for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system.
Additional reporting by AP.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-greenland-jeff-landry-envoy-denmark-b2888880.html