US tells Denmark to 'calm down' over alleged Greenland influence operation

August 28, 2025

The United States has told Denmark to "calm down" after Denmark summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen over claims of American covert operations in Greenland. Danish intelligence agencies warned that Greenland was being targeted by influence campaigns allegedly attempting to promote its secession from Denmark to the US. This diplomatic tension follows previous statements by US President Trump expressing desire to annex Greenland, with reports suggesting Americans were trying to compile lists of Greenlanders who might support US takeover efforts.

Who is affected

Denmark and its government officials
Greenland and its residents
US-Denmark diplomatic relations
Greenlandic political parties and independence movement
Danish intelligence and security services (PET)
Orsted (Danish wind farm developer affected by separate US government action)
The 350,000 homes that would receive power from the Revolution Wind project

What action is being taken

Denmark has summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Mark Stroh over the allegations
Danish intelligence has strengthened its presence in Greenland and cooperation with Greenlandic authorities
Danish PET security service is monitoring for influence campaigns aimed at creating discord between Denmark and Greenland
The US State Department is attempting to reaffirm strong ties between the three entities while refusing to comment on actions of private US citizens
Denmark's foreign minister is publicly condemning attempted interference in Danish affairs

Why it matters

This represents an unprecedented diplomatic tension between traditionally close allies
The situation threatens the sovereignty of Denmark over its semi-autonomous territory
It creates potential internal conflict between Denmark and Greenland
The dispute could undermine NATO alliance cohesion
It highlights growing geopolitical interest in Greenland due to its strategic Arctic location and mineral resources
The diplomatic conflict has already affected Danish business interests, as evidenced by the US targeting Orsted's wind farm project

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC