In brief
In a significant diplomatic move, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen summoned the US charge d'affaires in Copenhagen following reports of alleged covert US influence operations in Greenland. Sources indicate the intention was to infiltrate Greenland's societal structure to support a movement for its secession from Denmark. This development has raised concerns in Denmark about foreign interference in its internal affairs, echoing previous remarks from US officials regarding Greenland's strategic importance.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen, following a report that American citizens have been conducting 'covert influence operations' in Greenland. Denmark's public broadcaster DR quoted sources as saying the aim was to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark to the US, although it was unable to clarify whether the men were working on their own.Rasmussen expressed that 'any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will of course be unacceptable', leading to the summon of the US charge d'affaires Mark Stroh. The BBC has reached out to the US embassy for comments on these developments.Previously, US President Trump has indicated desires to annex Greenland, an autonomous part of Denmark, while Vice-President JD Vance accused Copenhagen of neglecting the territory. During a recent visit to Greenland, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned the US against such moves, stating that 'you cannot annex another country'.In light of these reports, Rasmussen noted that the Danish government is aware of the continuing interest from foreign actors in Greenland, stating it is unsurprising that outside attempts to influence the Kingdom could be expected in the future.This incident comes after earlier reports suggested US spy agencies were focusing their efforts on Greenland, a topic which had already prompted Rasmussen to summon US officials this year. The implications of these events are significant, reflecting a potential shift in the dynamics of Danish-US relations and the geopolitical significance of Greenland.
