1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to publicly oppose President Trump's appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland and to condemn any efforts to annex this Danish territory. This appointment represents a dangerous escalation of Trump's stated ambitions to make Greenland part of the United States, disregarding the sovereignty of Denmark, a NATO ally, and the self-determination of Greenland's 57,000 residents. Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called this move "deeply upsetting" and summoned the US ambassador for explanation, warning that Denmark cannot accept actions undermining the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made clear that "Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity must be respected." Opinion polls show overwhelming opposition among Greenlanders to becoming part of the United States, even as most favor eventual independence from Denmark. Trump's refusal to rule out using force to secure control of Greenland is particularly alarming. This threatens a NATO ally with whom the United States has maintained close relations since World War Two. The appointment of an envoy whose explicit purpose is to help make Greenland part of the US demonstrates a fundamental disrespect for international law and the principle of self-determination. Greenland has been a semi-autonomous part of Denmark since 1979, with extensive self-government over domestic affairs. While the US has legitimate strategic interests in the Arctic region and has maintained a military base in Greenland since World War Two, these interests do not justify territorial expansion or coercion of allies. I ask you to introduce or support legislation that explicitly rejects any attempt to acquire Greenland through purchase, coercion, or force, and to publicly affirm US commitment to respecting the sovereignty of Denmark and the self-determination of the Greenlandic people. Our alliances and international standing depend on respecting the territorial integrity of democratic nations.