Denmark on Monday reaffirmed its demand that all countries, including the United States, respect its territorial sovereignty after President Donald Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy tasked with bringing Greenland under US control.
In a joint statement, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said: “We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law. They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the move confirms ongoing American interest in Greenland but stressed that Denmark’s territorial integrity must be respected under international law. Danish media reported that Rasmussen plans to summon the US ambassador in Copenhagen for talks.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that no country can annex another, even on security grounds. They stressed that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and that Denmark expects full respect for their shared territorial integrity. Nielsen separately said the announcement changes nothing for Greenland, reiterating that while cooperation with other nations is welcome, it must respect Greenlandic values and self-determination.
Trump said Landry was chosen because of Greenland’s importance to US national security, while Landry wrote that he was honoured to help make Greenland part of the United States. The issue has reignited tensions between the NATO allies, following earlier US visits, accusations of pressure on Denmark, and renewed concerns about American efforts to assert influence over the strategically important Arctic territory.
Jeff Landry
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