Denmark summons high US diplomat over alleged affect operation

[ad_1] Paul Kirby Europe digital editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0512/live/2f978ef0-831c-11f0-848b-c1258325c24c.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images A naval ship is moored in Nuuk against a backdrop of mountains" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos A German navy ship pictured docking in Greenland - an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark

Denmark's international minister has summoned the highest US diplomat in Copenhagen, following a report that Americans have been conducting covert operations in Greenland.

Denmark's public broadcaster DR quoted sources as saying the goal was to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark to the US, though it was unable to make clear who the boys had been working for.

Danish intelligence warned Greenland was being focused by "varied sorts of affect campaigns".

International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned "any try to intervene within the inside affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will in fact be unacceptable", and the US cost d'affaires had been summoned in that gentle.

The BBC has approached the US embassy for remark.

Nonetheless, US President Trump has mentioned a number of occasions he needs to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Vice-President JD Vance has accused Copenhagen of underinvesting within the territory.

On a go to to Greenland just a few months in the past, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned the US that "you can't annex one other nation".

Denmark's international minister mentioned in a press release to the BBC that the federal government was "conscious that international actors proceed to point out an curiosity in Greenland and its place within the Kingdom of Denmark".

"It's due to this fact not shocking if we expertise outdoors makes an attempt to affect the way forward for the Kingdom within the time forward," he added.

Denmark is a member of Nato and the European Union and has lengthy seen the US as considered one of its closest allies, and Danes have been shocked by Trump's dedication to manage its semi-autonomous territory. The US president mentioned this yr he wouldn't rule out seizing it by drive.

Watch: Residents react to Trump's curiosity in Greenland

Denmark's PET safety and intelligence service mentioned in its evaluation that affect campaigns would goal to "create discord within the relationship between Denmark and Greenland".

This may very well be performed by exploiting "present or invented disagreements" both with "conventional, bodily affect brokers or by way of disinformation", it added. PET mentioned it had strengthened its presence in Greenland and co-operation with its authorities.

The US at the moment has no ambassador in Copenhagen, so Rasmussen has summoned Mark Stroh, who as cost d'affaires is essentially the most senior diplomat within the Danish capital.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen has already summoned the US cost d'affaires in Denmark this yr in response to a separate report in Might suggesting US spy businesses had been advised to focus their efforts on Greenland.

DR's report on Wednesday gave particulars of a go to by one American to Greenland's capital Nuuk, saying he was looking for to compile an inventory of Greenlanders who backed US makes an attempt to take over the island. The goal can be to attempt to recruit them for a secession motion, DR mentioned.

The sooner Might report within the Wall Road Journal additionally referred to studying extra about Greenland's independence motion, in addition to attitudes to American mineral extraction.

On the time, US Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard didn't deny the report however accused the Journal of "breaking the legislation and undermining our nation's safety and democracy".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1104/live/0c06e620-8326-11f0-83cc-c5da98c419b8.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A map showing Greenland’s location relative to Canada, the United States, and Denmark, with Nuuk highlighted as the capital of Greenland. An inset globe marks Greenland’s position in the Arctic region" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Greenland has a posh relationship with Denmark. Regardless of having broad self-government since 1979, its international and defence coverage is made in Copenhagen.

Though most of its political events favour independence, they disagree on how rapidly they need to push for it. Whereas Greenlanders have had the appropriate to name a referendum since 2009, polls counsel the overwhelming majority of them don't have any want to grow to be a part of the US.

When US Vice-President JD Vance visited a US navy base on the island in March, he accused Denmark of not doing a "good job by the folks of Greenland".

Nonetheless, Greenland chief Jens-Frederik Nielsen made clear in Might that the US wouldn't be taking up the territory: "We do not belong to anybody else. We resolve our personal future."

The Danish international minister's newest resolution to summon the US cost d'affaires quantities to a "diplomatic yellow card" unprecedented in Danish relations with the US, in keeping with Jens Ladefoged Mortensen of the College of Copenhagen.

"This hostile angle in direction of Denmark from the Trump administration is surprising," he advised the BBC. "As a pro-American nation we're asking why are you doing this."

Certainly one of Denmark's largest firms has already been caught within the crosshairs of the US authorities in latest days, following an order to cease the development of a giant wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island.

The Revolution Wind venture, already 80% full, is being run by Danish multinational wind farm developer Orsted, which is 50.1% owned by the Danish state.