US spies stoked separatism in Greenland, Denmark says

Denmark has accused U.S. agents of attempting to incite separatism in Greenland, reviving concerns about the territory’s future under Danish rule.

On Wednesday, August 27, Danish officials briefed national broadcaster DR, claiming that three U.S. citizens linked to the U.S. administration had visited Greenland secretly to recruit support for a potential split from Denmark and annexation by the U.S. The Danish government responded by summoning the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen, chargé d’affaires Mark Stroh, to lodge a formal complaint.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed outrage, stating, “If anyone believes they can influence the situation by fostering division or similar activities, it goes against how states cooperate.” He emphasized that Denmark needed to take a strong stance against such actions. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed the sentiment, calling any interference in Greenland’s internal affairs and democracy “unacceptable.”

The Danish intelligence service, PET, also warned that Greenland was being targeted by various influence campaigns. The agency expressed concerns that these campaigns might be aimed at causing a rift between Denmark and Greenland.

Greenland, with a population of just 57,000, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, rich in mineral resources and strategically important due to its position along evolving Arctic trade routes. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, even suggesting that it could be done by force if necessary. Tensions over the issue escalated earlier this year when U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. military base in Greenland and criticized Danish governance. Greenlanders, however, made a point of avoiding Vance and his wife during their visit, signaling discontent.

Former Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard remarked that this latest revelation about alleged U.S. activity meant that Greenland’s issues with foreign influence were far from over.

In response to the allegations, the U.S. State Department clarified that the three individuals involved were not acting on behalf of the U.S. government, stating, “The U.S. government does not control or direct the actions of private citizens.” A White House official also told Reuters to “calm down” the situation, downplaying the severity of the claims.

Greenland recently held elections in March, in which the pro-business, Denmark-friendly Democrats won, defeating the U.S.-sympathetic Naleraq opposition party. Despite the tensions, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt downplayed the alleged subversion, saying that the claims weren’t new or surprising.

Pele Broberg, the leader of the Naleraq party, downplayed the controversy, asking, “Should we never talk to anybody but Denmark? What’s the big issue here?” He added that foreign governments, including Denmark, France, and Germany, routinely try to influence Greenland’s politics, dismissing the alleged U.S. interference as part of everyday international relations.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Frederiksen issued a historic apology for Denmark’s past policy of forced sterilization of Inuit women between 1966 and 1991, which has been a significant source of resentment among Greenland’s indigenous population. Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz of the opposition Inuit Ataqatigiit party responded, acknowledging that the U.S. had long attempted to influence both the people and politicians of Greenland, calling the current situation just another chapter in this ongoing dynamic.

Source: euobserver