COPENHAGEN, Denmark
The Danish foreign minister has called in US diplomats after a significant national broadcaster reported that President Trump, along with at least three others, is allegedly conducting covert operations in Greenland.
Trump has voiced his interest in acquiring Greenland, which is a large, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. He hasn’t discounted the idea of using military forces to assert control over strategically important, mineral-rich Arctic islands.
Denmark and Greenland, both NATO allies of the US, have stated that the island is not for sale. They have also condemned reports suggesting that the US is gathering information on the island.
According to a report from the Danish Public Broadcasting Agency, unnamed government and security sources believe that three Americans linked to Trump are engaged in covert operations in Greenland. The specifics remain unclear, but one individual reportedly created a list of Greenlanders who are favorable towards the US, while also seeking out those who oppose Trump. Efforts were made by the other two individuals to foster relationships with local politicians, businessmen, and residents.
An “impact operation” is described as a coordinated effort to influence public opinion with specific political or military objectives in mind.
The report cited a total of eight sources, suggesting that these operations aim to undermine Denmark’s relations with Greenland from within the local community.
While the credibility of these unnamed individuals remains unverified, the report chose not to disclose their names in order to protect source integrity. The Associated Press has been unable to independently verify these allegations.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rocke Rasmussen acknowledged that foreign interests have been historically focused on Greenland and Denmark. He emphasized that any attempts to interfere in internal matters would be unacceptable and confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the US chargé d’affaires for a discussion.
He also noted that the cooperation between the Danish and Greenlandic governments relies heavily on mutual trust.
As for the US Embassy in Copenhagen, there hasn’t been an immediate response to requests for comment.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Agency indicated that there is ongoing speculation regarding various forms of impact campaigns that might aim to disrupt the relationship between Denmark and Greenland.
They acknowledged that these campaigns could exploit existing or fabricated differences that might arise from specific cases, or enhance Greenland’s perspectives regarding its relationships with Denmark, the US, or other countries with interests in the region.
Known by the acronym PET, the agency has reported that its efforts and presence in Greenland have been significantly strengthened in recent years, in collaboration with local authorities.
