• Denmark's Foreign Minister summoned the top US diplomat over alleged covert influence operations in Greenland.
• Reports suggest at least three Americans with Trump ties attempted to sway public opinion in favor of moving away from Danish governance.
• US officials have been accused of gathering intelligence and recruiting locals for a potential independence movement.
• Trump has previously expressed a desire for US control over Greenland, citing its strategic importance.
• Denmark emphasized that any external interference in its internal affairs is "unacceptable."

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen summoned the US charge d'affaires, Mark Stroh, following reports from Danish broadcaster DR that alleged US citizens linked to President Donald Trump had been conducting covert influence operations in Greenland. These operations reportedly aim to undermine Danish authority and promote secessionist sentiments among Greenlanders, who are largely opposed to such movements according to a January poll, as most wish to maintain autonomy while being critical of US intentions, according to BBC, Newsweek, and Channel News Asia.

Rasmussen stated, "Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the kingdom will, of course, be unacceptable," indicating that the Danish government takes these reports very seriously. The allegations outline actions by at least three American nationals who reportedly aimed to cultivate relationships with locals in Greenland and compile lists of individuals sympathetic to Trump, echoing concerns raised previously about US surveillance interests in the region, according to AA, NPR, and LA Times.

Reports have surfaced that these Americans were seeking to identify "sympathetic" Greenlanders and exploit societal tensions to potentially influence the local autonomy debate, as emphasized by Danish intelligence agencies which classified Greenland as a target for foreign influence operations. Trudeau's administration expressed that such actions would undermine Denmark's sovereignty, reiterating Denmark’s historic ties to Greenland, according to Reuters, The Local, and Al Jazeera.

The US State Department responded by stating that while it respects Greenland's right to determine its future, it does not control the actions of private citizens and downplayed the implications presented by Denmark. This is not the first time US diplomatic relations have been strained over Greenland's strategic significance, especially following Trump's earlier suggestions of acquiring the territory for security reasons, according to Reuters, Africa News, and The Local.