Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has announced plans to summon the US ambassador following a report that US intelligence agencies have been instructed to focus on Greenland. This move comes amid concerns raised by President Donald Trump’s previous threats to take control of the island. Rasmussen expressed alarm over the situation, stating, “We do not spy on friends,” in response to the report.
According to the article, US spy agencies were directed to monitor Greenland’s independence movement and explore the potential for extracting mineral resources from the island. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, criticized the report, accusing the outlet of attempting to politicize and leak classified information to undermine Trump’s administration. However, she did not explicitly deny the claims.
Rasmussen, attending an EU ministers’ meeting in Warsaw, described the report as troubling and confirmed that Denmark would call in the US acting ambassador to discuss the matter and verify the information. He expressed concern that the US response had not strongly rejected the report, heightening his worries.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) refrained from commenting on the article but acknowledged that there had been an increased interest in Greenland by the US, noting a growing espionage threat to Denmark and Greenland.
President Trump has frequently made public statements about the US potentially taking control of Greenland, citing the island’s strategic importance for international security and its potential mineral wealth. In a recent interview, he even suggested that military force could be considered to seize Greenland, although he stopped short of saying it would happen.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been under Danish control for over 300 years. While it governs its internal affairs, Denmark handles its foreign and defense policies. The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland since World War II, with Trump’s interest in the island possibly linked to its vast mineral resources.
While there is strong local support for Greenland’s independence from Denmark, the majority of Greenlanders do not wish to become part of the United States.
