Aug. 27 (UPI) — The Danish government summoned a top American diplomat on Wednesday on allegations that the United States is operating covertly in Greenland.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed to UPI in a statement that he asked the ministry to summon the U.S. diplomat for a meeting.
“We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark,” Ramussen said. “It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the kingdom in the time ahead.”
Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported Wednesday that based on information from eight sources whose identities are being kept anonymous, at least three Americans with connections to President Donald Trump have attempted to weaken Greenland’s relationship with Denmark.
The Americans, whom DR also decided not to name, are said to be working themselves into Greenlandic society in order to encourage secession from Denmark and embrace the United States.
One of the three Americans is said to have visited Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk and gathered names of Greenlanders who support Trump in order to foment secession, as well as a list of people critical of the United States.
The two other Americans are said to have made contact with several local people, including businessmen and politicians.
It was not immediately clear whether the Americans are agents of the U.S. government or are acting on their own.
DR further reported that the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen sent a note from an unidentified U.S. government representative, who stated that any individual American citizen who may have interests in Greenland is not under control of the U.S. government.
The statement also said that the United States would not intrude on the rights of Greenlandic people to control their own future.
ABC News reported Wednesday that the Danish Security and Intelligence Service said it is aware of inspiration efforts intended to create “discord in the relationship between Denmark and Greenland.”
Rasmussen made the call to speak with Mark Stroh, the most senior U.S. diplomat in the Danish capital, as the United States has no ambassador in Copenhagen.
UPI reporter Darryl Coote contributed to this report.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.