The Danish foreign minister said on Monday he will summon the US ambassador, insisting that everyone – including the United States – must respect “the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark” after US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana’s governor as the US special envoy to Greenland.
During his presidential transition and early second term, Trump repeatedly pushed for US control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and has not ruled out using military force to seize the mineral-rich Arctic island.
In March, Vice-President J.D. Vance visited a remote US military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of underinvesting there.
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The issue gradually drifted out of the headlines but, 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.
On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland. He said that “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.”
Landry wrote in a social media post that “it’s an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US”.
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