In a sharp rebuke to its American ally, Denmark has summoned the top U.S. diplomat in the country for an urgent meeting, following reports that U.S. citizens with ties to the Trump administration have been conducting a covert influence operation in Greenland. The extraordinary diplomatic move signals a new low in relations and highlights the intensifying geopolitical competition for control of the Arctic.
The diplomatic firestorm erupted after Denmark’s national public broadcaster, DR, reported that at least three Americans with connections to the White House have been carrying out a campaign to sow discord between Greenland and Denmark. Citing unnamed Danish government, security, and intelligence sources, the report alleges that the Americans were gathering intelligence, compiling lists of Greenlandic citizens who support or oppose U.S. interests, and cultivating political and business contacts. The purported goal, according to the report, is to “weaken relations with Denmark from within Greenlandic society.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen immediately condemned the alleged scheme. “Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable,” he said in a statement. “I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the U.S. chargé d’affaires for a meeting.”
The U.S. embassy in Copenhagen, which is currently without a confirmed ambassador, deferred comment to Washington. In a statement to Danish media, a U.S. government representative said, “Individual U.S. citizens may have interests in Greenland. The U.S. government does not control or direct the actions of private citizens.” This response has been viewed with skepticism in Copenhagen, with officials pointing to the individuals’ documented ties to the administration.
This is the second time in recent months that a U.S. diplomat has been summoned by Denmark over Greenland. The first was over reports of U.S. intelligence agencies increasing espionage in the Arctic. The latest incident adds fuel to a long-simmering dispute that began with President Donald Trump’s repeated public expressions of a desire to purchase the vast, mineral-rich, semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, is seen by the U.S. as strategically vital for national security, given its location between the Arctic and North Atlantic, a region where China and Russia are also expanding their influence. While the Danish government and Greenlandic officials have consistently stated that the island is not for sale, the Trump administration has continued to signal its interest, with Vice President J.D. Vance and other high-ranking officials visiting the island in recent months.
For now, the diplomatic fallout continues to escalate. The brazen nature of the alleged operation and the forceful Danish response demonstrate a clear willingness from Copenhagen to stand up to its powerful ally. As the Arctic becomes a new frontier of geopolitical competition, this incident serves as a stark warning that allies cannot be taken for granted.