Nuuk – capital of Greenland (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
By Gary Raynaldo -DIPLOMATIC TIMES
A diplomatic row has erupted between Denmark and the United States over Greenland. Denmark summoned the US Ambassador on Thursday after reports the Trump administration intends to escalate spying operations on Greenland. Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister, called on Jennifer Hall Godfrey, the acting U.S. ambassador to Denmark, after the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday the Trump administration ordered its intelligence agencies to increase spying on the strategic island. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence agencies were directed to identify people in Greenland and Denmark who support U.S. desires to annex the island. During a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw, Rasmussen told reporters: “I have read the article in the Wall Street Journal and it worries me greatly because we do not spy on friends.”
Trump has repeatedly talked of taking over Greenland contending the US needs it for national security purposes. Trump has also not ruled out military action to obtain it. The Danish foreign minister has been harshly critical of the Trump administration’s remarks about Greenland. He said “this is not how you speak to your close allies” after Vice President J.D. Vance accused Denmark of not doing a good job keeping Greenland safe. “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,” Vance said during a March visit to Greenland. The Trump administration is also interested in Greenland’s untapped mineral wealth, which includes gold, lithium and uranium.
Denmark has controlled Greenland, the world’s largest island, for some 300 years. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The two countries have sought to bolster ties amid Trump’s desire to make Greenland part of the US. Denmark and Greenland’s political leaders have reiterated that the island is not for sale.
