• Denmark's foreign minister calls Trump's Greenland envoy appointment "completely unacceptable."
• Jeff Landry, Trump's envoy, vows to engage with Greenlanders about their needs.
• Danish leaders assert Greenland's sovereignty and oppose U.S. annexation aspirations.

The appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the special envoy to Greenland by President Donald Trump has prompted a stern reaction from Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized the move, stating, “the statements about the purpose hereby - is completely unacceptable." Rasmussen indicated that the Danish government plans to convene the U.S. ambassador for discussions over the matter, emphasizing Denmark's stance of upholding international law regarding national sovereignty, according to The Hill and South China Morning Post.

In his initial comments following this appointment, Jeff Landry sought to clarify the U.S. administration's intentions, saying they do not aim to “conquer” Greenland, but wish to "open a dialogue" with its residents. He affirmed the importance of understanding the aspirations of Greenlanders, questioning, “What are they looking for? What opportunities have they not gotten?” This approach stands in contrast to Trump’s rhetoric about securing strategic control of Greenland, as highlighted by both Anadolu Agency and South China Morning Post.

The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen jointly stressed that Greenland's future should be in the hands of Greenlanders, a clear reiteration of their stance against any perceived U.S. territorial ambitions. They stated, “National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” highlighting their commitment to maintain sovereignty amidst heightened U.S. interest in the territory, according to Anadolu Agency and The Hill.

The rising tensions regarding Greenland come at a critical time as the Trump administration grapples with various foreign policy challenges. Critics, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, caution against “picking fights with friends,” emphasizing that Greenland's sovereignty is “not up for debate,” articulating the delicate nature of U.S.-Danish relations as they navigate potential geopolitical conflicts, according to South China Morning Post and Anadolu Agency.