Denmark and Greenland reject US control attempt after Trump appoints special envoy

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland stated this Monday (22) that the United States will not annex Greenland and demanded respect for territorial integrity, after President Donald Trump announced the appointment of a special envoy for the island. Trump’s announcement on Sunday appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as US special envoy reignited tensions over Washington’s interest in the semi-autonomous Danish territory, which is a NATO ally. Understand why Greenland, the largest island in the world, is in Donald Trump’s sights In a joint statement, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and the Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated that national borders and the sovereignty of States are guaranteed by international law. “We have said this before. And we repeat: national borders and state sovereignty are rooted in international law”, they stated. “These are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with the argument of international security.” See the videos that are trending on g1 They added that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that they expect respect for the joint territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland. During the presidential transition period and in the first months of his second term, Trump once again defended US jurisdiction over Greenland and did not rule out the use of military force to take control of the island, rich in minerals and strategically located in the Arctic. In March, Vice President JD Vance visited an American military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of underinvesting in the region. The topic lost space in the news in the following months, but returned to the center of debate after the new appointment. On Sunday, Trump said Landry understands the importance of Greenland to U.S. national security and will defend American interests and those of its allies. In a post on Network X, Landry wrote that “it is an honor” to serve to “make Greenland part of the USA.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the appointment confirms the United States’ continued interest in Greenland, but stressed that all countries must respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark. Speaking to Danish broadcasters, Rasmussen said he will summon the US ambassador in Copenhagen, Kenneth Howery, to a meeting at the ministry. Before the joint statement, Nielsen said in a Facebook post that Denmark was again surprised by an announcement from the US president, but that this “changes nothing” for Greenland. At the beginning of the month, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service stated, in an annual report, that the United States has been using its economic power to impose its will and threaten allies and adversaries. The European Commission also expressed its opinion. A spokesperson stated that preserving the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the Kingdom of Denmark’s borders is essential for the European Union.

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