THE United States must respect “the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” the country’s foreign minister said today after President Donald Trump appointed a new special envoy to Greenland, whose goal is to make the territory part of the US.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said today that the territory is happy to co-operate with other countries, including the US, but stressed that “we decide our own future.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement emailed by his ministry that “the appointment confirms the continued [US] interest in Greenland.”

“However, we insist that everyone — including the US — must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he said.

He later told Danish broadcasters today that he plans to summon the US ambassador.

Mr Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term for US jurisdiction over Greenland, a vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and has not ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich, Arctic island.

On Sunday, Mr Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, saying that “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security, and will strongly advance our country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed, the world.”

Mr Landry wrote in a post on social media that “it’s an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.”

Earlier this month, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service said in an annual report that the US is using its economic power to “assert its will” and threaten military force against friend and foe alike.