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Denmark has called in the senior U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen following reports that American citizens attempted to influence politics in Greenland, raising tensions between the close allies.
According to Danish broadcaster DR, unnamed sources claimed individuals linked to the U.S. sought to build support for Greenland's secession from Denmark, with the eventual goal of moving the island closer to Washington. The report did not specify who the men were working for, but it prompted an immediate response from Copenhagen.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the government "will not accept any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark" and confirmed that Mark Stroh, the U.S. chargé d'affaires, had been summoned.
The alleged operation comes against the backdrop of repeated comments from President Donald Trump expressing interest in annexing Greenland. Vice President JD Vance has also criticized Denmark for what he described as underinvestment in the Arctic territory.
Greenland, an autonomous region under Danish sovereignty since 1979, controls most of its domestic affairs, but Copenhagen retains authority over foreign and defense policy. While some local parties support eventual independence, opinion polls show little appetite among Greenlanders to become part of the United States.
Danish intelligence agency PET has warned of increasing "influence campaigns" aimed at driving a wedge between Copenhagen and Nuuk, often through disinformation or recruitment of sympathizers. The service said it has expanded cooperation with Greenlandic authorities to counter such activity.
This is not the first time the issue has strained relations. In May, a Wall Street Journal report suggested U.S. agencies were instructed to prioritize Greenland, leading to another summons of the American diplomat.
The latest revelations drew sharp criticism from Danish academics, with University of Copenhagen professor Jens Ladefoged Mortensen calling it "a diplomatic yellow card unlike anything seen before in U.S.–Danish relations."
The controversy comes as a separate dispute brews over renewable energy. Danish wind power giant Ørsted was recently ordered to halt construction on its nearly completed Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island, part of President Trump's broader campaign against offshore wind energy.
