In brief
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expresses concerns about US spying on allies, particularly regarding Greenland's independence movement and mineral resource interests.
Denmark's foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has announced plans to summon the US ambassador following a report that US intelligence agencies have been directed to monitor Greenland amidst Donald Trump's contentious remarks about the territory. In a statement, Rasmussen emphasized, "It worries me greatly because we do not spy on friends," in response to The Wall Street Journal's piece detailing US interests in the semi-autonomous region.The article asserts that US agencies are focusing on Greenland’s independence movement and potential extraction of its mineral resources. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, critiqued the Journal’s disclosure, asserting it politicizes classified information and undermines national security. She refrained from outright denying the allegations.While attending an EU ministers meeting in Warsaw, Rasmussen deemed the spying report as "somewhat disturbing" and announced plans to meet with the acting US ambassador for clarification regarding the allegations. He noted that responses from US officials have not strongly dismissed the claims, which adds to his concerns. Although the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) declined to comment directly on the Journal's article, they acknowledged escalating espionage threats linked to heightened international interest in Greenland. Trump has previously expressed a desire to bring Greenland under US control, most recently suggesting military force might not be off the table, stating the island is vital for "international security." During a Congress address in March, Trump remarked, "one way or the other, we're going to get it.”Danish officials have criticized US involvement in Greenland, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen denouncing a visit by Vice-President JD Vance to a US military base on the island as "unacceptable pressure" on both politicians and the local populace. Former President Joe Biden also rebuked Trump's remarks, emphasizing that the US stands for freedom and democracy, not territorial expansion.Despite Greenland's longstanding ties to Denmark, where it has been governed for around 300 years, public sentiment among Greenlanders leans towards independence rather than joining the US. The island, notable for its vast size, has strategic military significance for the US, which has maintained a military presence there since World War II, while also eyeing its potential rare earth mineral resources.
