Trump appoints Jeff Landry as Greenland special envoy, sparking anger in Denmark

A fresh diplomatic storm broke across the Arctic on Monday after President Donald Trump announced Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special US envoy to Greenland. The US action drew sharp rebukes from Denmark and Greenland, along with warnings that national borders are not up for negotiation.

Following Trump’s surprise announcement, which revived long-running tensions over Washington’s interest in the vast, mineral-rich Arctic territory that remains part of the Danish kingdom, Denmark’s foreign minister said he would summon the US ambassador, according to the Associated Press.

"We have said it before. Now, we say it again," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement. "National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security."