Denmark Protests US Appointment of Greenland Envoy

Tensions between Denmark and the United States have escalated after President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as Washington’s new special envoy to Greenland, a move that has sparked anger in Copenhagen and raised concerns over sovereignty.

Denmark’s government reacted sharply to the announcement, with Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen saying the decision left him deeply angered and warning that the United States must respect Danish territorial integrity. Copenhagen has said it plans to summon the US ambassador in protest.

In announcing the appointment, President Trump said Landry understands Greenland’s importance to US national security and would advance American interests for the safety and security of allies. Landry, in turn, welcomed the role on social media, describing it as an honor and expressing support for closer ties between Greenland and the United States.

Rasmussen condemned those remarks as unacceptable, stressing that as long as the Kingdom of Denmark consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, any attempt to undermine its sovereignty cannot be tolerated. He reiterated that all states, including close allies, must respect Denmark’s territorial integrity under international law.

The diplomatic dispute has also drawn a strong response from the European Union. The European Union said it stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland amid what it described as growing US pressure over the Arctic territory.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa both underscored that sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental principles of international law, not only for the EU but for the global community.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom, has long been viewed as strategically significant because of its location in the Arctic and its natural resources.