Denmark to summon US envoy over reported espionage in Greenland

New Delhi, May 8: Denmark’s foreign ministry will summon the United States’ acting ambassador following reports that American intelligence agencies have been instructed to intensify surveillance on Greenland, amid renewed speculation over Washington’s interest in the island.

The move comes in response to a report by The Wall Street Journal alleging that U.S. spy agencies have been tasked with monitoring the semi-autonomous territory’s push for independence, as well as efforts to tap into its mineral wealth.

The report has stirred concerns in Copenhagen over potential breaches of trust between allied nations. While U.S. officials have not confirmed the directive, the country’s Director of National Intelligence strongly criticised the publication of the report, describing it as harmful to national security. However, the statement did not deny the substance of the claims. The Danish foreign minister, currently attending a meeting of European Union ministers in Warsaw, described the situation as troubling and indicated the government’s intent to seek clarification from the U.S. diplomatic mission in Copenhagen. Authorities hope to determine the accuracy of the report and whether intelligence gathering efforts are being directed at Danish territory.

Denmark’s domestic intelligence service, PET, confirmed it is monitoring foreign interest in the Arctic region. The controversy follows recent remarks from former President Donald Trump, who reiterated his administration’s ambitions to acquire Greenland. In a recent interview, he said the possibility of using military means to secure control of the island remained on the table. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long been of strategic interest to Washington, both for its location in the Arctic and its untapped natural resources.