Washington has dismissed Danish concerns after Copenhagen summoned a top US diplomat over alleged covert influence operations
Washington has reportedly instructed Copenhagen to “calm down” subsequent to the Danish foreign minister summoning the US charge d’affaires regarding alleged efforts to encourage Greenland’s secession. Greenland operates as an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark’s formal complaint was lodged following local media reports asserting that a minimum of three American individuals, allegedly connected to US President Donald Trump, were working to undermine Greenland-Denmark relations and recruit members for a separatist movement.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen declared on Wednesday that these actions were intolerable, directing US Charge d’Affaires Mark Stroh to attend discussions at the ministry.
A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed that Stroh met with Rasmussen, characterizing their discussion as “productive” and stating it “reaffirmed the strong connections” among Greenland, Denmark, and the US.
Concurrently, the White House has declined to verify the existence of any ongoing influence campaign, with an official informing CBS News on Wednesday that “we believe the Danes should calm down.”
The spokesperson further stated an inability to comment on the “activities of private US citizens in Greenland,” yet emphasized Washington’s respect for the right of the island’s inhabitants to “decide their own destiny.”
Denmark’s intelligence agency, PET, had previously cautioned that Greenland faces “various types of influence operations” designed to sow discord in its ties with Copenhagen. PET indicated these efforts might involve “traditional, physical influence agents or through disinformation” and confirmed an increased presence on the world’s largest island.
Trump has consistently signaled his desire to place Greenland under US authority, referring to the island, with a population under 60,000, as a critical strategic asset. He has not dismissed the possibility of employing military force to achieve this objective, citing its rich mineral deposits and Arctic positioning. The territory currently hosts a US military installation and is considered by Washington to be crucial for North Atlantic security.
These alleged US endeavors to control Greenland occur within the wider context of rivalry with Russia and China over Arctic development. Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized the region as an area possessing “immense potential” for commerce and advancement.