Covert Influence Operations in Greenland
COPENHAGEN — In a dramatic turn of events, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has taken action by summoning the top US diplomat in Copenhagen. This move comes in response to a report suggesting that American citizens have been conducting “covert influence operations” in Greenland.
According to Denmark’s public broadcaster DR, sources revealed that the objective of these operations was to infiltrate Greenland’s society and advocate for its secession from Denmark to the US. However, it remains unclear whether these individuals were acting on their own.
Rasmussen issued a strong statement, declaring that “any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will of course be unacceptable.” Consequently, the US charge d’affaires has been summoned to address this serious matter.
President Trump has openly expressed his desire to annex Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Vice-President JD Vance has further criticized Copenhagen for allegedly neglecting its investment in the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously rebuked the US during a visit to Greenland, emphasizing that “you cannot annex another country.” The tensions between the US and Denmark continue to escalate.
With no US ambassador currently in Copenhagen, Rasmussen has called upon Mark Stroh, the charge d’affaires, as the highest-ranking American diplomat in the Danish capital.
Denmark’s foreign minister conveyed to the BBC that the government is fully aware of foreign interests in Greenland and its position within the Kingdom of Denmark. He warned that outside attempts to influence the Kingdom’s future may persist in the coming days.
As a member of Nato and the European Union, Denmark has traditionally viewed the US as a key ally. However, Trump’s persistent efforts to control Greenland have unnerved many Danes. The US president even hinted at the possibility of seizing the territory by force.
Rasmussen has previously summoned the US ambassador to Denmark this year following a separate report in May that suggested US spy agencies were focusing on Greenland. The recent revelations by DR shed light on an American’s visit to Greenland’s capital Nuuk, where he reportedly sought to identify Greenlanders supportive of US annexation efforts.
The Wall Street Journal’s May report also touched upon investigations into Greenland’s independence movement and American mineral extraction interests. Despite these developments, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not refute the claims but instead criticized the Journal for alleged breaches of law and national security. — BBC
