Denmark Summons U.S. Envoy Over Alleged Espionage in Greenland

(COPENHAGEN) Denmark summoned the top United States 🇺🇸 diplomat in the country on August 27, 2025, after new reports alleged that American operatives carried out covert influence and espionage efforts in Greenland, the autonomous Arctic territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called in U.S. chargé d’affaires Mark Stroh to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, seeking explanations about reported operations that targeted local politics and public opinion. The step underscores mounting worry in Denmark about outside pressure on Greenland during a period of rising Arctic tension.

The allegations were first reported by Danish public broadcaster DR and, according to multiple security and government sources cited in Danish media, involved at least three individuals with ties to the administration of President Trump. The reported activities included compiling lists of “U.S.-friendly” Greenlanders, collecting names of Trump opponents, and urging local voices to push negative portrayals of the Danish government in U.S. media. Danish officials say such actions, if proven, would cross clear lines between allies.

Foreign Minister Rasmussen said Denmark’s long-standing ties with the United States remain “close” and “based on mutual trust,” but stressed that any attempt to interfere in the Kingdom’s internal affairs is “unacceptable.” He added that the summons aimed to obtain clarity from Washington and to restate Denmark’s position that sovereignty over Greenlandic matters rests with the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland’s own elected leaders. As of August 27, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen had not issued a public response.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously set out the government’s red line, saying in May 2025 that “you cannot spy against an ally.” That statement came amid earlier debates over foreign activities in Greenland, whose strategic location and resources have pushed it to the center of today’s security landscape. Officials in Copenhagen and Nuuk have said repeatedly that they welcome cooperation with partners, but not covert pressure that aims to shape local politics.

Allegations and official reactions

According to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (known by its Danish initials, PET), Greenland faces ongoing influence campaigns from a range of actors. PET says the island’s growing strategic value—in military reach, natural resources, and Arctic shipping routes—has made it a target.

While PET did not name specific countries in its recent statements, the current claims reported by DR focus on alleged U.S.-linked activities with political aims inside Greenland. PET’s warning speaks to a broader trend: the Arctic has become a busier, more contested region, and Greenland sits at its heart.

The United States currently lacks a Senate-confirmed ambassador to Denmark; Mark Stroh, the chargé d’affaires, is the acting chief of mission and was the official summoned by the Foreign Minister. Diplomats normally handle such tense exchanges behind closed doors, but the Danish government chose to make the summons public. That decision reflects Denmark’s push to deter further covert steps and to reassure Greenlandic leaders and the Danish public that the government is taking the matter seriously.

DR’s reporting, citing multiple sources, said the alleged operations tied to figures with links to President Trump aimed to map allies and opponents in Greenland and to influence narratives carried to American audiences. That reporting sparked sharp reactions from Danish lawmakers and Greenlandic politicians who warned against turning local debates into a proxy battlefield.

Several Greenlandic voices have asked for more transparency from Copenhagen, and a firmer say for local authorities in any security decisions that affect the island.

Possible Danish responses and monitoring

VisaVerge.com reports that Danish authorities are preparing for a period of closer review of foreign political activity in Greenland. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this could include:

• Tighter scrutiny of funding sources for local groups.
• More direct outreach by Danish and Greenlandic officials to community leaders who may be targeted by outside campaigns.
• Emphasis on cooperation with partners while setting clearer guardrails for engagement on the island.

Any new measures would likely stress transparency and protecting democratic debate in small communities where outside pressure can have an outsized effect.

Wider stakes for Arctic cooperation

The diplomatic flare-up touches on several sensitive areas:

1. It tests the principle, long stated in NATO capitals, that allies do not spy on one another’s domestic politics.
2. It raises questions about how the United States and Denmark manage cooperation in Greenland, where the U.S. maintains important defense facilities and shared security interests with the Kingdom of Denmark.
3. It could influence how Arctic partners work together as Russian and Chinese activity in the far north grows and climate change reshapes sea routes.

Danish officials have suggested that cooperation with the United States in Greenland—on defense, science, and economic development—will continue. But they also warn that any covert attempt to steer local politics will prompt a swift response. Possible responses may include:

• More active counterintelligence measures.
• Stronger information-sharing with Greenlandic authorities.
• Clearer rules for foreign visitors, consultants, and lobbyists working on the island.

If new oversight is introduced, it will likely focus on transparency and on protecting democratic debate.

Historical context and legal-diplomatic significance

The allegations recall the public clash in 2019, when President Trump floated the idea of the United States acquiring Greenland. Denmark and Greenland rejected the notion immediately, but the episode sparked a larger conversation about U.S. interest in the island and how that interest should be managed. Since then, Greenland’s role in Arctic planning has only grown.

From a legal and diplomatic standpoint, Denmark’s summons of the U.S. chargé d’affaires is a clear signal without being a break in relations. Summoning an envoy is a common diplomatic tool used to:

• Express concern,
• Request explanations, or
• Register a formal protest.

What happens next may depend on Washington’s response and whether Danish authorities present more public evidence. Parliamentary committees in Copenhagen are expected to examine the issue, and PET may provide briefings behind closed doors before any public hearings.

The human side of this dispute is easy to overlook, but it matters. Greenland’s communities are small, and public life is close-knit. If outsiders compile lists of “friends” and “opponents,” the social cost can be high.

People can feel watched or judged by foreign actors they have never met. Danish and Greenlandic leaders urge calm and ask locals to report suspicious approaches. Community groups recommend asking simple questions when contacted by unknown stakeholders: Who are you? Who funds you? What is your goal?

Current status and potential fallout

As of August 27, 2025:

• The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen had not issued a public response.
• The government of Greenland had not issued a public response.
• Danish authorities are awaiting a formal reply from the U.S. government.

Possible outcomes:

• If the United States provides assurances and commits to respecting allied norms, the immediate tension could ease.
• If not, fallout could affect intelligence sharing, Arctic planning, and joint NATO messaging.
• The European Union may also review coordination on information security in the far north.

Danish security experts note that some influence pressure can come from private actors who claim informal ties to officials. That gray zone complicates attribution and slows investigations. PET’s public warnings aim to raise awareness without naming names.

Recommendations for local communities

Authorities and experts stress vigilance. Key guidance includes:

• Report unusual contacts to local authorities.
• Ask basic verification questions of unknown contacts:
  • Who are you?
  • Who funds you?
  • What is your goal?
• Encourage transparency from groups receiving foreign funding.

Possible policy responses being discussed by Danish lawmakers:

• Regular public updates from PET about influence trends in Greenland.
• Stronger guidance for local institutions that receive foreign funding.
• A standing hotline for citizens to report suspicious outreach.

These steps would aim to keep civil life open and friendly while giving communities tools to spot pressure tactics early.

Next steps and where to follow updates

All eyes now turn to Washington’s next move and to any additional findings from Danish intelligence or parliamentary reviews. If new details emerge, Denmark may ask NATO and EU partners to discuss common rules for allied conduct in sensitive regions—especially where small communities and strategic assets meet.

For official updates on security warnings and counterintelligence guidance related to Greenland, readers can follow the Danish Security and Intelligence Service at PET.

For now, Denmark has made its position plain: friendship with the United States must rest on respect for sovereignty, open cooperation, and a firm line against espionage that touches domestic politics in Greenland.