The Danish government has summoned a senior US diplomat following allegations of covert operations aimed at shifting Greenland’s allegiance from Denmark to the United States. Reports indicate that individuals with ties to former President Donald Trump have been sent to the autonomous territory to identify potential supporters for a US takeover.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, confirmed that he requested an urgent meeting with US charge d’affaires Mark Stroh at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen. This action comes after the Danish Broadcasting Corporation reported that at least three Americans affiliated with Trump were involved in missions to gauge support for US interests in Greenland.
Concerns about foreign influence in Greenland have intensified. The territory, rich in minerals and strategically positioned in the North Atlantic, has been the subject of Trump’s interests since his first term in office. In 2019, Trump proposed purchasing Greenland, likening it to the US acquisition of Alaska from Russia, a suggestion that was met with strong disapproval from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
The Danish security services are now investigating these claims of covert interference, as foreign actors appear increasingly interested in Greenland’s future. “We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark,” Rasmussen stated. He emphasized that any attempt to meddle in the internal affairs of the Kingdom would be deemed unacceptable.
At a recent press conference, Frederiksen expressed her serious concern over the situation. Reports revealed that individuals with connections to the White House have allegedly been working clandestinely in Greenland, attempting to forge a movement that could support US sovereignty over the territory. According to journalist Niels Fastrup, the operation involved creating lists of Greenlanders who might support Trump’s ambitions while also identifying those opposed to these plans.
Fastrup noted that the covert activities included efforts to foster divisions between Denmark and Greenland, although it remains unclear whether these actions were orchestrated directly by the Trump administration. “We are not at present able to establish whether they are working on their own or on behalf of Donald Trump directly,” he stated in an interview.
Greenland, home to a population of approximately 58,000, has been pushing against Danish control, seeking greater autonomy. This friction is exemplified by Frederiksen’s recent apology for a past Danish government initiative that forced around 4,500 Inuit women to receive contraceptive implants without consent from the 1960s to the 1990s. “We cannot change what has happened. But we can take responsibility. Therefore, on behalf of Denmark, I would like to say: I am sorry,” she remarked.
Despite Trump’s ongoing interest, recent polling by Verian revealed that public sentiment in Greenland strongly favors remaining part of Denmark. In a survey conducted in January 2024, 85 percent of respondents indicated they did not wish to leave the Danish realm to join the United States, while only 6 percent expressed support for such a move. The remaining 9 percent were undecided.
In January, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland, promoting the idea of the territory joining the United States. He described Greenland as an “incredible place” that would benefit significantly from becoming part of the nation.
In response to the heightened interest from the US, Danish monarch King Frederik has adjusted the royal coat of arms to reflect Greenland’s significance within the Kingdom of Denmark.
As tensions escalate, both Denmark and the US are poised to navigate a complex and sensitive situation that could reshape the future of Greenland and its relationship with both nations. The outcomes of the meeting between Rasmussen and Stroh may provide further clarity on US intentions and Denmark’s response to these allegations.
