An advanced medium-range air-to-air missile is launched from an F/A-18F Super Hornet during a test in this undated photo. The State Department on Monday gave initial approval to the sale of hundreds of similar missiles to Denmark to bolster its defense capabilities, the agency said. (RTX/Courtesy photo)
The United States cleared a potential sale of over $900 million in medium-range missiles to Denmark, an announcement that comes as President Donald Trump renews a push to take control of the country’s autonomous territory of Greenland.
The State Department on Monday gave its backing to the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment for an estimated $951 million.
Noting Denmark’s status as a NATO ally, the agency said the pending deal “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States.” The sale still needs final congressional approval.
Denmark has requested to buy 236 missiles and other gear to boost its capability to meet current and future threats, the statement said.
The announcement coincided with a decision by Trump to appoint Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, a move that has riled Denmark, which said it will summon U.S. Ambassador Kenneth A. Howery over the matter.
An advanced medium-range air-to-air missile is fired at the Andoya Space Center in Norway in this undated photo. Denmark on Monday received initial U.S. approval for a roughly $950 million sale of such missiles to Denmark. (RTX/Courtesy photo)
In a post Monday on X, Landry told Trump he is serving in the position to “make Greenland a part of the U.S.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a joint statement Monday that there are no legitimate grounds for the United States to annex the territory.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland,” their statement said.
In 2009, the territory approved a referendum granting it autonomy in all matters except defense, security and foreign policy.
Greenland was ruled directly by Denmark from the early 18th century until home rule began on the island in 1979.
Trump has insisted that the vast island is essential to U.S. national security interests.
“If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “We need it for national security. We have to have it.”
The U.S. military has long had a presence in Greenland, dating back to the 1940s.
During the Cold War, the military had more than 10,000 troops on the territory, which today hosts Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base.
Today, the nuclear armed long-range bombers that were part of the original Cold War force are gone. But a ballistic missile early warning mission carries on with about 200 active-duty U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel.