USA interference in Greenland is under renewed scrutiny after Danish public broadcaster DR reported alleged influence operations by American nationals with links to President Donald Trump in Nuuk and other parts of the island.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister (Udenrigsministeren) Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the government had summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Copenhagen, calling any meddling in the Kingdom’s internal affairs “unacceptable”.
What DR’s investigation suggests
DR’s reporting, based on multiple government and security sources, describes at least three American men active in Greenlandic networks. One allegedly compiled lists of pro‑Trump and Trump‑critical Greenlanders, while others cultivated contacts among politicians, business leaders and citizens. The activities are framed by sources as attempts to infiltrate Greenlandic society and shape opinion about relations with Denmark and the United States.
Government response: a diplomatic dressing‑down
In response, Lars Løkke Rasmussen ordered a meeting with the USA Embassy leadership in Copenhagen. The minister stressed that foreign interference in the Kingdom of Denmark—which includes Greenland’s self‑governing territory—is not acceptable and would be addressed through diplomatic channels. Danish authorities are coordinating closely with Greenland’s government on the evolving situation.
Denmark’s Police Intelligence Service (PET) assesses that Greenland is a target for influence campaigns, especially in the current geopolitical climate. Such efforts typically seek to exploit or amplify divisions between Greenland and Denmark or to reinforce specific narratives about the island’s future. PET notes it is in ongoing dialogue with Greenlandic authorities and is prepared to take counter‑measures against concrete activities.
Political reactions in Denmark and Greenland
Danish party leaders across the spectrum called the reported activities “very serious” and “completely unacceptable,” urging the government to brief Parliament and tighten safeguards.
In Greenland, politicians have stressed that debate over greater autonomy or independence must not be manipulated by outside actors, while reaffirming cooperation within the Kingdom.
Alleged USA interference in Greenland and the Arctic
The current allegations sit within a broader Arctic security picture in which influence operations—from disinformation to targeted network‑building—are tools used to steer public opinion and policy debates. For the Nordic region and the EU, ensuring transparent debate in Greenland while protecting democratic processes is central to regional stability.
