Greenland: As Americans ‘infiltrate’, start ‘covert ops’, Denmark summons US envoy
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: After remaining on the back burner for weeks as US President Donald Trump was busy firing his tariff missiles left, right, and centre, Greenland bounced back to hit the headlines again as Denmark summoned the US envoy to protest against Americans’ ‘infiltration’ into the Danish territory.
According to media reports on Wednesday, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark. will be unacceptable.
US President Trump has time and again talked about taking over Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, claiming that it is very important for international security and the peace of the world.
Taking cognisance of a Financial Times report that three US citizens, who infiltrated Greenland to allegedly carry out covert campaigns there, Denmark summoned top US diplomat Mark Stroh to register its protest.
The report by Danish public broadcaster DR claimed that these US citizens were working to infiltrate Greenland’s society and promote its secession from Denmark to the US.
Rasmussen said that he summoned Stroh, charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Copenhagen, adding that “any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom (of Denmark) will, of course, be unacceptable.”
Earlier this year, US Vice President JD Vance also visited Greenland and alleged that Denmark has “underinvested” in the territory, forcing the US to take a firm stance to safeguard Greenland’s security, while pushing for its independence from Denmark.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”
Rasmussen said he was not surprised by the outside attempts to influence the future of Denmark.
“Aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark.” It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the Kingdom in the time ahead,” he said.
Denmark is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and an ally of the US. It also allowed the US military to have bases in three Danish cities: Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg.
