US Influence Operations in Greenland Draw Danish Response

The highest-ranking American diplomat in Denmark was called in by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen regarding revelations about secret influence operations carried out by the US in Greenland.

According to reports from Danish public broadcaster DR, at least three individuals associated with the Trump administration were involved in this operation, citing anonymous security and government sources.

The Danish Prime Minister remarked, “You can’t spy on your allies,” following these alarming reports of espionage activities in Greenland.

Rasmussen acknowledged that foreign entities have shown a keen interest in Greenland’s status within the Kingdom of Denmark. He stated, “It’s unsurprising to witness external efforts aimed at influencing the future of the Kingdom,” and expressed that any interference in their internal matters is totally unacceptable. He then directed the Foreign Office to convene a meeting with the US Chargé d’Affaires.

He added that the bond between Denmark and Greenland is “close” and rooted in mutual trust.

Earlier during his presidency, Donald Trump made headlines for his interest in acquiring Greenland, which both Danish and Greenlandic officials firmly rejected, stating that the island is not for sale.

As the US currently lacks a designated ambassador to Denmark, American diplomat Mark Stro was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the situation.

Reports also indicated that one of the suspects in the alleged influence operation created a list of Greenlanders favorable to the US, gathered the names of Trump’s critics, and pushed locals to draw attention to incidents that painted the Danish government in a negative light within the US media. Furthermore, two others were suspected of attempting to cultivate ties with local politicians, businesses, and citizens.

The Associated Press noted that sources believed the intent behind these actions was to damage the relations between Denmark and Greenland. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service reportedly informed them that Greenland is being targeted by various influence campaigns, particularly given the current circumstances.

In May, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that “you cannot spy on your allies” in connection to past reports of US intelligence gathering in Greenland.

Efforts to reach the US Embassy in Copenhagen and the Greenland government for comments were unsuccessful at the time of publication.