Denmark summons U.S. envoy over claims of interference in Greenland : NPR

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Kwiyeon Ha/AP COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark's international minister summoned the highest U.S. diplomat within the nation for talks after the principle nationwide broadcaster reported Wednesday that a minimum of three individuals with connections to President Donald Trump have been finishing up covert affect operations in Greenland.

In a prolonged written assertion, the U.S. State Division confirmed that the deputy chief of mission in Copenhagen, Mark Stroh, had met with Danish international ministry officers. It declined to remark "on the actions of personal U.S. residents in Greenland."

"The U.S. authorities doesn't management or direct the actions of personal residents," it stated.

The division stated Stroh had "a productive dialog and reaffirmed the sturdy ties among the many Authorities of Greenland, america, and Denmark." It stated the U.S. values its relationships with each Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland and famous that Trump and his prime aides had all stated they respect "the fitting of the individuals of Greenland to find out their very own future."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4432x2952+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2Fb6%2F611c19894085af24599fa56cfc79%2Fap25239544092531.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4432x2952+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2Fb6%2F611c19894085af24599fa56cfc79%2Fap25239544092531.jpg" class="img" alt="Mark Stroh, the top U.S. diplomat in Denmark, arrives the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Mark Stroh, the highest U.S. diplomat in Denmark, arrives the Ministry of Overseas Affairs in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix Foto/AP disguise caption

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Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix Foto/AP "We proceed to foster engagement and cooperation with Denmark and Greenland to assist elevated safety and prosperity for our nations," it stated.

Stroh is the second American diplomat to be summoned by a European NATO ally this week because the Trump administration shakes up its strategy to international coverage. France had referred to as U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to its international ministry after he despatched a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging the nation didn't do sufficient to fight antisemitism.

Trump has repeatedly stated he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, an enormous, semiautonomous territory of Denmark. He has not dominated out navy power to take management of the mineral-rich, strategically positioned Arctic island.

Denmark and Greenland have stated the island will not be on the market and condemned reviews of the U.S. gathering intelligence there.

Public broadcaster DR stated Danish authorities and safety sources that it did not identify, in addition to unidentified sources in Greenland and the U.S., imagine that a minimum of three American nationals with connections to Trump have been finishing up covert affect operations within the territory.

A kind of individuals allegedly compiled a listing of U.S.-friendly Greenlanders, collected names of individuals against Trump and acquired locals to level out instances that may very well be used to forged Denmark in a foul mild in American media, the broadcaster reported. Two others have tried to nurture contacts with politicians, businesspeople and locals, based on the report.

DR stated its story was based mostly on info from a complete of eight sources, who imagine the purpose is to weaken relations with Denmark from inside Greenlandic society. It stated it had been unable to make clear whether or not the Individuals had been working at their very own initiative or on orders from another person. It stated it is aware of their names however selected to not publish them to guard its sources.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7856x5240+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb0%2F7f%2F0357b9494fd181edbef0a1a0de21%2Fap25239543920906.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7856x5240+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb0%2F7f%2F0357b9494fd181edbef0a1a0de21%2Fap25239543920906.jpg" class="img" alt="Mark Stroh, the top U.S. diplomat in Denmark, arrives the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Mark Stroh, the highest U.S. diplomat in Denmark, arrives the Ministry of Overseas Affairs in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix Foto/ AP disguise caption

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Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix Foto/ AP The Related Press couldn't independently verify the report.

"We're conscious that international actors proceed to point out an curiosity in Greenland and its place within the Kingdom of Denmark," Danish Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated in an announcement. "It's due to this fact not stunning if we expertise outdoors makes an attempt to affect the way forward for the Kingdom within the time forward."

"Any try to intrude within the inside affairs of the Kingdom will after all be unacceptable," Rasmussen stated.

Cooperation between the governments of Denmark and Greenland "is shut and based mostly on mutual belief," he added.

The White Home, just like the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, wouldn't touch upon the substance of DR's reporting that Individuals with connections to Trump have been finishing up covert affect operations in Greenland. However a White Home official, who was not approved to remark publicly and spoke solely on the situation of anonymity, downplayed Denmark's considerations and instructed "the Danes have to settle down."

The Danish Safety and Intelligence Service stated it believes that "notably within the present state of affairs, Greenland is a goal for affect campaigns of varied varieties" that might purpose to create divisions within the relationship between Denmark and Greenland.

It stated it "assesses that this may very well be completed by exploiting current or fabricated disagreements, for instance in reference to well-known particular person instances, or by selling or amplifying sure viewpoints in Greenland relating to the Kingdom, america, or different nations with a selected curiosity in Greenland."

The service, recognized by its Danish acronym PET, stated that lately, it has "repeatedly strengthened" its efforts and presence in Greenland in cooperation with authorities there, and can proceed to take action.