The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland have reaffirmed their commitment to territorial sovereignty after Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland, a largely self-governing Danish territory he has repeatedly suggested should come under U.S. control.
“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. National borders and state sovereignty are rooted in international law … You cannot annex other countries,” Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated jointly.
They emphasized that “fundamental principles” were at stake, adding: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our common territorial integrity.”
On Sunday, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to the mineral-rich Arctic island. The president has previously argued that acquiring Greenland is necessary for U.S. security and has not ruled out using force to do so.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “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, who became governor in January 2024, thanked Trump and called it “an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.”
In response, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he would summon the U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen for an explanation, calling the appointment “deeply upsetting” and Landry’s statement “completely unacceptable.”
“As long as we have a kingdom in Denmark that consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, we cannot accept that there are those who undermine our sovereignty,” Rasmussen added.
The EU expressed support for Denmark’s territorial integrity, while Sweden and Norway also voiced full backing. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Sweden “will always stand guard over international law,” and Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide stated Oslo “stands 100% behind Denmark.”
Eide noted that the appointment clearly signaled Trump’s intent to make Greenland part of the United States.
According to a January poll, most of Greenland’s 57,000 residents wish to gain independence from Denmark but do not want to become part of the U.S. Greenland has held the right to declare independence since 2009.
Prime Minister Frederiksen said Denmark’s longtime ally was putting it in “a difficult situation,” but affirmed that the country would “not deviate from our democratic values.”
Nielsen separately stated that the appointment “may sound big” but “does not change anything for us at home. We have our own democracy, our own decisions and a strong community that stands firm. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, said the envoy appointment itself was not problematic, but rather “that he’s been given the task of taking over Greenland or making Greenland part of the U.S.”
“There’s no desire for that in Greenland,” she added. “There is a desire to respect the future that a majority in Greenland wants, namely to remain their own country and develop their independence over time.”
Strategically located between North America and Europe, Greenland has drawn growing interest from the U.S., China, and Russia in the Arctic. It also lies on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States.
Denmark has summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires for further discussions.In August, the US chargé d’affaires was called to an urgent meeting over concerns about a suspected influence campaign. This followed allegations that at least three American men with ties to Trump and the White House had attempted to infiltrate Greenlandic society.
Since Trump’s election, several prominent US politicians and business figures have visited Greenland. Donald Trump Jr. traveled to the capital, Nuuk, in January, and Vice President JD Vance toured a US military base there in March.
Earlier this month, the Danish defense intelligence service stated in its annual report that the US was leveraging its economic power to “assert its will” and was threatening military force against both allies and adversaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Danish Greenlandic Leaders Message to Donald Trump
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this news story about
This is about a public statement made by the Prime Minister of Denmark and the Premier of Greenland They are responding to past reports that former US President Donald Trump once expressed interest in buying Greenland Their core message is a firm rejection of the idea that any country can be purchased or forcibly taken over
2 Who exactly said this and why
The statement was jointly issued by Mette Frederiksen the Prime Minister of Denmark and Múte Bourup Egede the Premier of Greenland They said it to clearly affirm Greenlands status as a part of the Danish realm and to reinforce the principle of national sovereignty in international relations
3 Can the US actually buy Greenland
No Greenland is not for sale It is a selfgoverning territory within the Kingdom of Denmark Its status cannot be changed without the consent of the people of Greenland and the Danish government
4 What does annex mean in this context
To annex means to seize or take control of another countrys territory and declare it part of your own usually by force or coercion The leaders are stating that such actions are unacceptable under modern international law and norms
Advanced Contextual Questions
5 Why is this statement happening now if Trumps comments were years ago
While the original idea was floated during Trumps presidency leaders may reiterate this stance now as a preemptive and principled declaration It serves to reinforce sovereignty ahead of any potential future discussions especially with a possible second Trump term on the horizon It also solidifies the united front between Denmark and Greenland
6 What is the strategic importance of Greenland that sparked this interest
Greenland holds significant geopolitical and resource value It has vast potential mineral and rare earth deposits controls key Arctic shipping routes as ice melts and hosts important militaryearlywarning radar installations like Thule Air Base Control of Greenland would offer major strategic advantages
7 How does Greenlands selfrule factor into this
Crucially Greenland has had selfgovernment since 2009 and controls most of its own affairs While Denmark handles foreign and defense policy any decision about its ultimate status rests solely with the Greenlandic people
