Denmark says it will summon a US diplomat over report on increased US intel gathering in Greenland
May 8, 2025, 2:44 AM
FILE - Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen listens to speakers during a meeting after a ceremony to mark the 25th Anniversary Nordic Embassies in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥� Denmark says it will summon the top U.S. diplomat in the country for an explanation following a Wall Street Journal report about the United States stepping up intelligence gathering on Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory coveted by President Donald Trump.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster DR outside a meeting Wednesday with colleagues in Poland that Denmark would summon the U.S. charg茅 d鈥檃ffaires to seek a 鈥渞ebuttal鈥� or other explanation following the report.
The Journal, citing two people familiar with the U.S. effort that it did not identify, reported that several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland鈥檚 independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there.
The U.S. Embassy did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press on Thursday seeking comment on whether the U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen, Jennifer Hall Godfrey, had received a summons. The Danish Foreign Ministry, in an email, did not comment beyond referring to Rasmussen鈥檚 remarks.
Rasmussen, who has previously over its criticism of NATO ally Denmark and Greenland, said the information in the report was 鈥渧ery worrying” and “we don鈥檛 spy between friends.鈥�
“We are looking at this with quite a lot of seriousness,” he added.
Greenland’s prime minister said last month that U.S. statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and it 鈥渨ill never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.鈥�
In a visit to the island last month, Denmark鈥檚 Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, addressing the United States during a visit to Greenland that 鈥測ou cannot annex another country,鈥� even with the argument made by U.S. officials that international security is at stake.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington will respect Greenland鈥檚 self-determination and alleged that Greenlanders “don鈥檛 want to be a part of Denmark.鈥�
