Denmark will recall the US ambassador after the announcement of a new US special envoy for Greenland, which the foreign minister called unacceptable without consultation.
Denmark will recall the US ambassador after news of the appointment of a new US special envoy for Greenland. This was announced on Monday by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Lokke Rasmussen, TASR reports, according to an AFP report.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday appointed the governor of the state of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, as the special envoy of the United States for Greenland. Trump emphasized on his social network Truth Social that Landry “understands how important Greenland is to our national security and will vigorously promote our country’s interests for the safety, security and survival of our allies and the world.”
Danish sovereignty under pressure
Danish Minister Rasmussen called the appointment “absolutely unacceptable” and said the Foreign Office would summon the US ambassador for an explanation. “As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark, which consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, we cannot accept that there are people who undermine our sovereignty,” he said.
After returning to the White House in January of this year, Trump has repeatedly indicated that Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, should become part of the United States. He cited security reasons and interest in the island’s mineral resources. Greenland and Denmark strongly reject this idea.
US statements worry the islanders
Landry’s new ambassador supported Greenland’s accession at the beginning of the year and said on Sunday that he would be “honored to serve you in this … position with the goal of making Greenland a part of the US.”
Although the US and Greenland agreed to “mutual respect” this month, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt warned that comments by US officials had created uncertainty among the island’s residents and stressed the need for open dialogue.
