Copenhagen has condemned Jeff Landry’s statements on territorial annexation as “totally unacceptable”.
Published December 22, 2025
Denmark has summoned the US ambassador after President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that he was “deeply angered” by President Trump’s appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Denmark, which he has repeatedly threatened to annex.
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Mr. Rasmussen said he was particularly perturbed by Mr. Landry’s comments upon accepting the appointment praising his plan to “make Greenland part of the United States.”
He called the statement “totally unacceptable” and called on Washington to respect Denmark’s sovereignty, saying:The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to summon the US ambassador soon to request an “explanation.”
Despite Denmark being a NATO ally, President Trump has repeatedly antagonized the Nordic nation, threatening to take control of Greenland, which is largely autonomous but incorporated into Denmark.
President Trump has argued that the United States needs the resource-rich island for security reasons. He said in March that the United States would “do whatever it takes” and refused to rule out using military force to seize the initiative.
The leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly said the giant Arctic island is not for sale and that they will decide its future themselves.
A January poll showed the majority of Greenland’s 57,000 people want independence from Denmark but not becoming part of the United States.
President Trump nominated Landry to be the U.S. special envoy to the territory Sunday night, saying in a post on his Truth social platform that the Louisiana governor “understands how vital Greenland is to our national security and will strongly advance our interests.”
Landry responded directly to Trump in a post on X, saying, “It is an honor to serve in this volunteer capacity to make Greenland part of the United States.”
Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said Landry’s appointment “doesn’t change anything here at home,” but it will further exacerbate simmering tensions between the United States and Denmark.
Denmark summoned the US chargé d’affaires in August following media reports about US covert influence operations in Greenland.
Earlier this month, Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Agency warned that the United States is using economic power to “assert its will” and threatening military force against allies and foes alike.
