Denmark has summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen following intelligence reports alleging covert influence operations by U.S. citizens in Greenland, aimed at undermining Danish authority.
The reports, detailed by Danish public broadcaster DR, suggest that at least three Americans with ties to the Trump administration sought to promote Greenland’s secession from Denmark to the United States.
Greenland, a mineral-rich Arctic territory and semi-autonomous part of Denmark, has been a focal point of U.S. strategic interest, particularly after former President Donald Trump’s public ambitions to acquire it.
The allegations highlight growing tensions over Greenland’s geopolitical significance.
DR, citing eight unnamed sources, reported that the suspected operations aimed to weaken Denmark-Greenland relations by fostering division within Greenlandic society.
While the identities of the Americans involved remain undisclosed, the reports have fueled concerns about external interference in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called such actions “completely unacceptable,” emphasizing that any attempt to create a “fifth column” undermines state cooperation.
Greenlandic parliament member Aaja Chemnitz also expressed alarm, stating, “The United States should not be allowed to influence our future in this way. It is solely up to the Greenlandic people.”
Denmark’s Foreign Ministry acted swiftly, with Rasmussen ordering a meeting with the U.S. chargé d’affaires to address the allegations.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) noted that Greenland remains vulnerable to influence campaigns that could exploit existing tensions or amplify specific viewpoints about Denmark or the U.S.
Greenland’s government, alongside Denmark, has rejected U.S. proposals to purchase the territory, affirming its right to self-determination through a potential referendum.
As Denmark rallies European support to counterbalance U.S. ambitions, the incident underscores the delicate balance of power in the Arctic, where strategic and resource interests continue to shape international relations.