WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his call to take over Greenland, which triggered strong objections from Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.
“We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
The claim contrasted with his administration’s earlier remarks, which cited a combination of national security concerns, Arctic strategy, and the potential of critical minerals and natural resources as drivers of U.S. interest.
On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland.
“We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge,” Trump said. In response, Landry said on X that the special envoy position would be “a volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” “They say Denmark owns it.
Denmark has spent no money and has no military protection,” Trump said.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, was granted home rule in 1979.
In 2009, Denmark passed the Act on Greenland Self-Government, expanding the island’s authority over its domestic affairs.
However, Denmark retains authority over Greenland’s foreign, defense and security policy, according to information on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office of Denmark.
Trump’s appointment of the envoy to Greenland has sparked strong diplomatic reactions in Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that he would summon U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery over the appointment. “I am very upset about this appointment of a special envoy.
And I am particularly upset about the envoy’s statements, which we find completely unacceptable,” Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster TV 2. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Monday in a joint statement that they expect respect for their “joint territorial integrity” from the U.S. side.
“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. You cannot annex other countries.
Not even with an argument about international security.
Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland,” the statement said.
“Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union (EU),” EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told a press conference Monday, adding that the bloc’s stance is grounded in a long-standing position on the issue. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
