The Danish foreign minister summoned the top U.S. diplomat after the national broadcaster reported that at least three people with connections to President Donald Trump carried out covert influence operations in Greenland. The U.S. State Department confirmed that deputy chief of mission Mark Stroh met with Danish foreign ministry officials and declined to comment on the actions of private U.S. citizens. The department stated the U.S. government does not control private citizens and said Stroh had a productive conversation reaffirming strong ties among Greenland, the United States, and Denmark. The U.S. emphasized valuing relationships with Denmark and Greenland and respect for Greenlanders' right to determine their future. France also summoned a U.S. envoy over a contentious letter, and Denmark and Greenland condemned reports of U.S. intelligence gathering and rejected offers to sell the island.
In a lengthy written statement, the U.S. State Department confirmed that the deputy chief of mission in Copenhagen, Mark Stroh, had met with Danish foreign ministry officials. It declined to comment "on the actions of private U.S. citizens in Greenland." "The U.S. government does not control or direct the actions of private citizens," it said. The department said Stroh had "a productive conversation and reaffirmed the strong ties among the Government of Greenland, the United States, and Denmark."
It said the U.S. values its relationships with both Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland and noted that Trump and his top aides had all said they respect "the right of the people of Greenland to determine their own future." "We continue to foster engagement and cooperation with Denmark and Greenland to support increased security and prosperity for our nations," it said.
Stroh is the second American diplomat to be summoned by a European NATO ally this week as the Trump administration shakes up its approach to foreign policy. France had called U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to its foreign ministry after he sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging the country did not do enough to combat antisemitism. Trump has repeatedly said he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, a vast, semiautonomous territory of Denmark.
Collection
[
|
...
]