US Tells Denmark to ‘Calm Down’ over alleged Greenland Influence Operation

The US has told Denmark to “calm down” after the top US diplomat in Copenhagen was summoned over claims that Americans had been conducting covert operations in Greenland.
Denmark’s public broadcaster DR quoted sources as saying the aim was to infiltrate society and promote its secession from Denmark to the US, although it was unable to clarify who the men were working for.
A White House official would not confirm an influence campaign was underway, but said: “We think the Danes need to calm down.”
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said “any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will of course be unacceptable”.
Danish intelligence warned Greenland was being targeted by “various kinds of influence campaigns”.
A US state department spokesperson said Chargé d’Affaires Mark Stroh had met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding he had had a “productive conversation” that “reaffirmed the strong ties” between Greenland, Denmark and the US.
The spokesperson could not comment on “the actions of private US citizens in Greenland”, but said the US had always respected the right of the people of Greenland to “determine their own future”.
US President Trump has said several times he wants to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Vice-President JD Vance has accused Copenhagen of underinvesting in the territory.
On a visit to Greenland a few months ago, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned the US that “you cannot annex another country”.
Denmark’s foreign minister said in a statement to the BBC that the government was “aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark”.
“It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the Kingdom in the time ahead,” he added.
Denmark is a member of Nato and the European Union and has long seen the US as one of its closest allies, and Danes have been shocked by Trump’s determination to control its semi-autonomous territory. The US president said this year he would not rule out seizing it by force.