Denmark’s government summoned the U.S. ambassador last week amid growing outrage over reports of American spying in Greenland.
The diplomatic row exposes alarming tactics in President Trump’s persistent quest to acquire the resource-rich Arctic territory.
Danish Officials Express Strong Concerns About Spying Claims
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the acting U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Hall Godfrey to the ministry in Copenhagen for a tense meeting Thursday.
A representative from Greenland’s government also attended the talks.
Rasmussen made no bones about his displeasure with the intelligence activities.
"The purpose of the meeting was to make the Kingdom's position completely clear. It is our impression that the acting ambassador took that seriously," he told media afterwards.
The diplomatic eruption follows a Wall Street Journal report claiming U.S. intelligence agencies received orders to intensify surveillance on Greenland.
According to the article, agencies were instructed to identify individuals in both Greenland and Denmark who might support American objectives for the island.
Trump Administration Refuses To Back Down On Claims
The White House did not deny the allegations outright.
National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt stated only that the administration doesn’t comment on intelligence matters.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the newspaper of "breaking the law and undermining our nation's security and democracy."
Her response glossed over the actual substance of the allegations. Rather than deny them, she attacked the messenger.
Trump has turned up the heat on his Greenland ambitions in recent weeks. During a shocking NBC interview, the president refused to rule out using military force to seize the territory.
"I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything," he said.
Intelligence Strategy Raises Alarm Bells About Trump’s Plans
The reported intelligence directive is a troubling plot twist in the Greenland saga.
This isn’t mere rhetoric anymore. Such actions suggest a calculated strategy to advance Trump’s territorial ambitions through covert means.
Rasmussen expressed his deep worries about the situation.
"It raises a lot of concern, because friends don't spy on each other," he told Danish outlet Ritzau.
The foreign minister added that gathering intelligence with the aim of identifying potential divisions to exploit was “not the kind of cooperation we should have.”
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service has taken note of the situation.
The agency acknowledged an increased threat against both Greenland and Danes based on the island in the Arctic territory.
Greenlandic Leaders Push Back Against Trump’s Claims
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen did not shy away from condemnation.
"Spying in Nuuk by the U.S. is completely unacceptable. It's disrespectful to an ally and entirely abnormal," Nielsen declared to Danish broadcaster DR.
Trump’s comments about Greenland’s residents have only added fuel to the fire.
During his NBC interview, he stated that "Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we'll take care of, and we'll cherish them, and all of that."
The patronising tone has gone down like a lead balloon with Greenlanders.
Recent polling shows the vast majority of Greenlanders reject American acquisition of their homeland.
A March visit by Vice President JD Vance seemingly backfired, turning even more Greenlanders against the idea of American control.
Strategic Resources Drive American Interest in Arctic Region
The American fixation on Greenland isn’t simply territorial expansion for its own sake.
The Arctic isle holds substantial deposits of rare earth minerals crucial for modern technology manufacturing.
Trump has repeatedly cited "national security" and "international security" as justifications for acquiring Greenland. Minerals likely form a key part of this strategic calculation.
The U.S. already maintains a military presence in Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement. Thule Air Base plays a vital role in American early warning systems and space surveillance operations.
However, Trump’s vision clearly extends beyond this existing arrangement.
Former President Biden Condemns Trump’s Territorial Ambitions
In his first interview since leaving office, former President Joe Biden condemned Trump’s territorial aspirations during a BBC interview.
“What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden told the BBC’s Nick Robinson.
Biden specifically criticised Trump’s calls to acquire Greenland alongside other territorial ambitions regarding the Panama Canal and Canada.
His comments reflect the extraordinary nature of Trump’s statements by historical standards of American foreign policy.
The timing of this diplomatic incident couldn’t be worse for U.S.-Danish relations.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen already criticised Vice President Vance’s March visit to a U.S. military base in Greenland.
Frederiksen said it is "completely unacceptable to pressure Greenland, Greenlandic politicians, and the Greenlandic population."
Denmark at the Crossroads
Denmark now walks a tightrope between forcefully defending its sovereign rights and maintaining relations with a powerful ally.
The Danish government must stand firm against American overreach while preserving the broader security relationship.
Greenland’s status adds another layer of complexity. While foreign and defence policy decisions remain with Copenhagen, Greenland has considerable autonomy in domestic affairs.
The territory has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1953 after being granted home rule in 1979.
Many Greenlanders desire independence from Denmark but have shown no interest in becoming American territory.
Such a sentiment creates a political dynamic U.S. intelligence agencies might seek to manipulate, potentially driving wedges between Copenhagen and Nuuk.
Foreign Minister Rasmussen acknowledged this concern during his comments on the spying reports.
"It doesn't seem to be strongly rejected by those who speak out. That worries me," he said regarding the American response.
This spying scandal represents a sea change in relations between two NATO allies.
If the reports prove accurate, the U.S. has crossed a serious line by targeting a friendly democratic country with intelligence operations designed to undermine its territorial integrity.
Keep up with Daily Euro Times for more updates!
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