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Denmark has summoned the US ambassador to demand an explanation after President Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland said his goal is to make the autonomous Danish territory “part of the US.”

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Shortly after President Trump returned to office, he began calling for Greenland to become part of the United States, citing a mix of strategic, economic, and national security reasons. Trump has argued that as Arctic ice continues to melt, new trade routes are opening through the region that geopolitical rivals like China and Russia could exploit. He has openly warned that without US control or influence in Greenland, the area risks becoming militarized by foreign powers, threatening global stability and American interests. Trump has also highlighted the island’s vast reserves of rare earth materials and the need to install advanced early warning systems in the Arctic to monitor potential missile threats. These proposals often piss off many in Greenland, where there’s strong support for independence from Denmark and little interest in joining the United States.

What’s going on now: Denmark’s government has summoned the US ambassador in Copenhagen after President Trump appointed Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland and Landry publicly stated that his goal is to make the territory “part of the US.” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the move “completely unacceptable,” saying the USmust respect Denmark’s territorial integrity and international law.

This comes after Landry, the sitting Republican governor of Louisiana, welcomed the role, writing on X: “It’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.” He added, “This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana!”

In announcing the appointment, President Trump said Landry “understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security” and would advance US interests globally.

More to come