Denmark rejects Trump's envoy claims of Greenland occupation
Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen (photo: Getty Images)
Denmark's ambassador to the United States rejected claims that Denmark has "occupied" Greenland. He stressed that the island's status as part of the kingdom is recognized internationally and by the UN, said diplomat Jesper Møller Sørensen.
Response to historical claims
The Danish ambassador publicly responded to a statement by US special envoy Jeff Landry, who earlier accused Denmark of violating UN protocols after World War II.
Key points from the Danish ambassador:
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Historical status: Sørensen stressed that Greenland has been an integral part of the kingdom for centuries.
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International recognition: The diplomat recalled that this status has been officially recognized multiple times by previous US administrations, the UN, and the international community as a whole.
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Right of choice: He emphasized that the right to decide the island's future belongs exclusively to the people of Greenland.
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Call for facts: The ambassador underscored that "facts matter" in interstate relations, responding to attempts to revise the history of World War II.
Reaction from Greenland
Amid the dispute between Washington and Copenhagen, political forces in Greenland itself also spoke out against US ideas. Local leaders stressed that the island is not a "guest" in its own home and is not considering changing its status, despite the Trump administration's strategic interests in the Arctic.
US special envoy for Greenland Jeff Landry accused Denmark of effectively seizing the island after World War II. According to him, Copenhagen "occupied" the territory and restored control over it while ignoring UN protocols.
China condemned the US interest in Greenland, calling it an attempt to use sovereign states for its own purposes. Beijing stressed the inadmissibility of such a US policy.
In the European Union, Donald Trump was reminded that Greenland's security is overseen by NATO. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the island belongs exclusively to its residents and that any fears in Washington about the region's vulnerability can be addressed by the Alliance itself.
