European countries are railing against President Donald Trump’s decision to tap Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly floated annexing the self-governing territory under Danish control throughout the first year of his second term, citing its strategic security and economic assets. Landry, a close Trump ally who said he would remain governor, vowed to “make Greenland a part of the U.S.” in his volunteer role.
“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again: you cannot annex other countries,” Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement Monday.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US should not take over Greenland,” the two leaders added. “We expect respect for our common territorial integrity.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Danish television Monday that he was “deeply upset” by Landry’s appointment. Rasmussen said he planned to summon PayPal co-founder Ken Howery, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, to register his disapproval.
“Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviability of its borders is essential for the European Union,” European Union spokesman Anouar El Anouni said Monday.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry also slammed Landry’s appointment, which appears to have caught European nations by surprise.
“The future of Greenland lies in the hands of Greenlanders,” German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said in a statement.
The United States has not appointed a special envoy to the resource-rich Arctic island in modern times. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance traveled to Greenland in March in an effort to improve relations between the United States and the less than 60,000 Greenlanders who live in the territory.
In August, Denmark’s foreign ministry summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen over reports that the United States was conducting an influence campaign in Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly argued that acquiring Greenland — strategically located between the United States and Europe — is vital for the United States’ security.
Greenland is geographically larger than Alaska and constitutes 98% of Denmark’s landmass.
“Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, announcing the appointment Sunday evening.
Though Landry has no apparent connection to Greenland, he applauded Trump’s interest in acquiring the strategic Arctic territory in January.
“We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States,” Landry wrote on X the week prior to Trump’s inauguration. “GREAT for them, GREAT for us! Let’s get it done!”
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