- Denmark summons top US diplomat amidst reports of covert influence campaigns
- Public broadcaster claims efforts aimed to back Greenland’s secession from Denmark
- Trump has openly expressed desire for the US to acquire the Arctic island
Denmark’s foreign minister summoned the highest-ranking US diplomat in Copenhagen on Wednesday following intelligence reports that Americans linked to the US government were conducting secret influence operations in Greenland. These efforts allegedly aimed to stir opposition against Danish rule and encourage Greenland’s split from Denmark in favor of closer ties or even control by the United States.
Public broadcaster DR, citing unnamed sources, revealed that at least three individuals connected to the Trump administration are suspected to be involved in these campaigns promoting Greenland’s secession. Neither Danish officials nor the broadcaster disclosed their names, and the US embassy in Copenhagen has yet to respond to requests for comment.
Greenland, a self-governed Danish territory rich in minerals and strategically located in the Arctic, has caught increasing US attention since former President Donald Trump floated the idea of buying the islandciting national security reasons. Both Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland’s capital (which has the right to hold an independence referendum), quickly rejected the proposal.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen condemned any attempts to undermine Denmark’s relationship with Greenland. “If anyone thinks they can influence it by creating a ‘fifth column’ or that type of activity, then it is contrary to the way states cooperate,” Rasmussen said, calling such actions “completely unacceptable.” He emphasized the need for clarity in opposing these US efforts.
US and Greenland: A Growing Focus
Earlier this year, Greenland held a general election in which a pro-business party supporting a slow path to independence won, while a party favoring rapid independence and closer US ties gained significant support. This result highlights the rising momentum for independence among Greenlanders.
In response to US interest, Denmark has worked to strengthen ties with Greenland and sought backing from European allies to counterbalance American ambitions. Though Trump later showed respect for Greenlanders’ right to decide their future, his past comments about possibly taking the territory by force have unsettled the island’s 57,000 residents.
“The United States should not be allowed to influence our future in this way. It is solely up to the Greenlandic people,” said Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament. Chemnitz believes the alleged influence campaigns are part of a broader US strategy spearheaded by Trump’s circle.
Denmark’s national security agency, PET, issued a warning that Greenland continues to be vulnerable to foreign influence operations aimed at exploiting tensions or promoting specific agendas related to both Denmark and the US.
Currently, the US ambassador to Denmark post is held by PayPal co-founder Ken Howery, whom Trump nominated, but the embassy is temporarily managed by Charge d’affaires Mark Stroh, according to its official website.
As tensions simmer, Denmark is standing firm against what it calls covert interference, signaling a serious diplomatic row with its closest ally over Greenland’s future.
