Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed deep concern on Wednesday following a Wall Street Journal report that the United States has intensified intelligence operations in Greenland. Speaking at an informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Warsaw, Rasmussen announced he would summon the acting U.S. ambassador to Denmark to address the claims.
“We do not spy on friends,” Rasmussen said, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations. “We are going to call in the U.S. acting ambassador for a discussion at the foreign ministry to see if we can confirm this information, which is somewhat disturbing.”
According to the WSJ, Washington has directed U.S. intelligence agencies to ramp up surveillance in Greenland, a move reportedly tied to former President Donald Trump’s ongoing interest in acquiring the strategically located Arctic island. The report cites anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
While the U.S. State Department declined to comment directly on intelligence activities, National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt previously stated that Trump views Greenland's security as a critical national interest.
Trump has long expressed a desire to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and has even refused to rule out annexation by force—straining diplomatic ties with Denmark and Greenland. Both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have made it clear that only Greenlanders can determine the island’s future.
Despite firmly rejecting Trump’s ambitions, Denmark and Greenland continue to navigate a delicate diplomatic balance, aiming to preserve strong relations with the U.S., a key ally in defense and Arctic affairs.
The report, if confirmed, may reignite tensions and raise broader questions about U.S. conduct toward allied nations, especially in the geopolitically sensitive Arctic region.