Denmark and Greenland's Message to the US: Any Attempt at Interference is Unacceptable
Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. (Photo: Vadim Nefedov/Mostphotos)
Americans linked to US President Donald Trump are conducting influence operations in Greenland, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday. The same day, the top US diplomat in Denmark was summoned by the Danish Foreign Ministry.
On Wednesday morning, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) reported that at least three American men linked to Donald Trump are trying to infiltrate Greenland.
DR bases this on information from central, but anonymous Danish government and agency sources, as well as sources in Greenland and the US. The broadcaster has not been able to establish whether the Americans in question are operating on their own or on a form of official mission.
In response to this reporting, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M), asked his ministry to summon chargé d'affaires Mark Stroh at the US Embassy in Denmark.
The meeting took place in the afternoon and included participation from Mininnguaq Kleist, Head of office at Greenland's department of foreign affairs.
"During the conversation, it was emphasized that any attempt to interfere in the Kingdom's internal affairs or to create discord is unacceptable. The Kingdom of Denmark expects full respect for its sovereignty and internal affairs, the Danish MFA commented to the Ritzau news agency.
Notes the lack of clear rejection
Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to take control over Greenland.
DR has asked the White House if American authorities have instructed their own citizens to carry out influence operations in Greenland, but has not received a response.
A representative at the US Embassy in Copenhagen stated to the broadcaster that the US government does not control or govern private citizens' actions, and that individual Americans could have interests in Greenland.
"I note that the Americans are not clearly rejecting the story depicted by DR today," said Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) to DR.
"Any influence in internal affairs in the Kingdom of Denmark and the Greenlandic democracy is unacceptable. Therefore, we consider this with great seriousness," she underlined.
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A target for influence campaigns
Greenland is the target for various types of influence operations in which the aim is to damage its relationship with Denmark, commented the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (DDIS) to DR.
"The DDIS considers that this could happen by exploiting existing or fabricated disagreements, for example, in connection with known individual cases or by reinforcing certain views in Greenland regarding the Kingdom and the USA or other countries with a particular interest in Greenland," wrote the intelligence service.
The DDIS also informed that it is in close dialogue with Greenlandic authorities about specific influence activities and the implementation of countermeasures.
Earlier in August, the Danish government announced that it would strengthen the DDIS' efforts in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
American envoy last summoned in May
It's not long ago that a top American diplomat was summoned to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that US intelligence agencies had been ordered to step up espionage in Greenland in the wake of Trump's desire for control over the island. The newspaper cited two anonymous sources "with knowledge of the matter".
This led to the US chargé d'affaires in Copenhagen at the time, Jennifer Hall Godfrey, being asked to meet with the Danish MFA's head of department, Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen.
The US currently has no ambassador to Denmark as Trump's appointee, Ken Howery, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
