Europe Blows Gasket As Trump Appoints Governor Vowing To Make Greenland Part Of US

European countries are railing against President Donald Trump’s decision to tap Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to Greenland.

Trump has repeatedly floatedannexing the self-governing territory under Danish control throughout the first year of his second term, citing its strategic security and economic assets. Landry, a close Trump ally who said he would remain governor, vowed to “make Greenland a part of the U.S.” in his volunteer role.

“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again: you cannot annex other countries,” Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement Monday.

“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US should not take over Greenland,” the two leaders added. “We expect respect for our common territorial integrity.”

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told Danish television Monday that he was “deeply upset” by Landry’s appointment. Rasmussen said he planned to summon PayPal co-founder Ken Howery, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, to register his disapproval.

“Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviability of its borders is essential for the European Union,” European Union spokesman Anouar El Anouni said Monday.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry also slammed Landry’s appointment — which appears to have caught European nations by surprise.

“The future of Greenland lies in the hands of Greenlanders,” German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer