Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen summoned the senior US diplomat in Copenhagen after reports that at least three US citizens linked to President Donald Trump's administration conducted covert influence operations in Greenland. Danish officials view foreign interference as an attack on national sovereignty and stated they will not accept covert operations on Danish territory. Public broadcaster DR reported that one of the men compiled lists categorizing Greenlanders by their support or opposition to the idea of US control. Earlier reporting said US intelligence leadership sought information on Greenland's independence movement and sentiment regarding US resource extraction; Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland for its minerals and strategic location.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday said he had summoned the senior US diplomat in Copenhagen after reports that US citizens linked to US President Donald Trump's administration carried out influence operations in Greenland. Reports of covert activity on the vast Arctic island, rich in minerals, threaten to strain ties between the two NATO allies. Officials in Copenhagen view such foreign interference as an attack on national sovereignty.
Rasmussen said Denmark "will of course" not accept covert operations on its territory. What triggered Denmark's protest? Public broadcaster DR reported that at least three US citizens with connections to the Trump administration had been involved in secret influence operations in Greenland. The individuals were not named. Rasmussen said any interference in Danish internal affairs was "unacceptable" and ordered the foreign ministry to summon the US charge d'affaires.
Why is Greenland important to the US? Earlier revelations in the Wall Street Journal had reportedly reinforced the authorities' concerns about a US threat to Greenlandic democracy. The newspaper said US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland's independence movement and sentiment about US resource extraction there. Trump has repeatedly said he wants the US to take over Greenland, citing its mineral wealth and strategic location in the Arctic.
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