Denmark and Greenland Demand Respect for Sovereignty
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland have called on the United States to acknowledge their sovereignty, emphasizing that the U.S. will not gain control over Greenland. This statement came shortly after President Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint statement criticizing the appointment. They referenced international law, asserting that the U.S. cannot simply annex another nation.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland,” their statement declared. “We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.”
Prime Minister Nielsen expressed that while Greenland is open to collaboration with the U.S., its territorial rights must be honored.
“We decide our own future. Greenland is our country, with our own democracy and strong community,” he stated on Facebook. “We are willing to cooperate with other nations, including the United States, but this must always be done with respect for us and our values.”
President Trump appointed Governor Landry as special envoy on Sunday, indicating that he would focus on advancing U.S. interests in the region.
Related: Trump appoints Louisiana governor as special envoy to Greenland
“Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security and will strongly advance our country’s interests for the safety and security of our allies,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Greenland should become a U.S. territory due to its strategic location and resources.
In a post on X Monday, Landry thanked Trump for his appointment but clarified it would not interfere with his responsibilities as governor of Louisiana, expressing enthusiasm about making “Greenland a part of the U.S.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described Landry’s comments regarding Greenland’s sovereignty as “completely unacceptable” and announced plans to summon U.S. Ambassador Ken Howery for clarification.
“As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark that includes Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, we cannot accept any undermining of our sovereignty,” Lokke Rasmussen stated.
This appointment is unlikely to alleviate existing tensions between Copenhagen and Washington that have persisted since Trump’s initial claims about Greenland. Vice President J.D. Vance also failed to improve relations during his visit in March when he criticized Denmark’s defense spending concerning Greenland.
While largely autonomous, Greenland’s defense and foreign policy are still managed by Denmark. Since 2009, it has had the right to declare full independence from Denmark; however, political disagreements remain regarding how such separation would occur.
Tensions escalated further in August when reports revealed individuals connected with the White House were allegedly involved in a covert influence campaign in Greenland. Mark Stroh, former chief diplomat in Denmark, was summoned by Danish authorities for questioning regarding this operation.
Danish efforts have also included increasing defense spending in the Arctic area; recently announcing a $4.26 billion investment package aimed at enhancing military capabilities through new Arctic vessels and advanced fighter jets.
