Denmark demands US respect its sovereignty after Trump deploys Greenland envoy

Denmark expects all nations, including the United States, to respect its territorial sovereignty after US President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to bring Greenland under Washington's control, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Monday.

Rasmussen said in a statement that while the appointment "confirms the continued American interest in Greenland," Denmark insists "everyone — including the US — must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark."

Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR reported that Rasmussen later said he would summon the US ambassador in Copenhagen, Kenneth Howery, for a meeting at the ministry.

”We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement.

“They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”

“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland,” they added in the statement, emailed by Frederiksen's office. "We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.”

Greenland's Nielsen wrote earlier on Facebook that the semi-autonomous Danish territory had "again woken up to a new announcement from the US president, but it does not change anything for us at home."

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and its territorial integrity must be respected," Nielsen wrote, adding that while the territory welcomes cooperation with other nations, this must be done with respect for Greenlanders and their values.

Landry pledges to make Greenland part of US

Trump announced Sunday he was appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, saying Landry "understands how essential Greenland is to our national security."

Landry wrote on X that "it's an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US."

Trump has repeatedly called for US jurisdiction over the vast, mineral-rich North Atlantic island during his presidential transition and the opening months of his second term. He has not ruled out using military force to take control of the strategically located territory.

In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a remote US military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of underinvesting in the territory.

The issue had receded from headlines before resurfacing with Sunday's announcement. In August, Danish officials summoned the US ambassador following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.

Denmark and the US are NATO allies.

Earlier this month, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the US is using its economic power to "assert its will" and threaten military force against friend and foe alike.

Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark for more than 600 years, but gained substantial autonomy in 1979. It controls most domestic affairs while Denmark handles defence and foreign policy.