Denmark accuses US of espionage in Greenland and Copenhagen, summons ambassador

Danish officials express outrage after reports of stepped-up US espionage targeting politicians in Greenland and Denmark.

Painted houses and apartment buildings are seen in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Photo by Juliette Pavy/Bloomberg

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Tensions between the United States and Denmark have intensified following revelations suggesting increased American intelligence activity in both Greenland and Copenhagen. The Danish government has officially summoned the US ambassador in response to a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging a classified US directive to identify political figures sympathetic to Washington’s strategic ambitions in the Arctic.

The article, published earlier this week, claims that top American intelligence agencies received instructions to gather information on individuals in Denmark and its semi-autonomous territory of Greenland who might support former US President Donald Trump’s revived interest in acquiring the Arctic island. The report also highlights efforts to assess Greenland's independence movement and the feasibility of increased mineral extraction by US-based firms.

In a sharp diplomatic rebuke, Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Wednesday that he viewed the claims with “deep concern,” noting that “you do not spy on your friends.” He confirmed that he had contacted the US ambassador to express Copenhagen’s displeasure with the reported espionage operations. The summoning of the ambassador marks one of the strongest responses Denmark has made against a NATO ally in recent memory.

Greenland leaders consider stronger countermeasures

The allegations have triggered a fierce reaction not only in Copenhagen but also in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. Pipaluk Lynge, a senior Greenlandic MP and chair of the parliament’s security committee, called the situation “unacceptable” and suggested that officials seriously consider shutting down the US consulate in Nuuk.

“You have to talk about the Trump administration as it is,” Lynge said in an interview with Danish broadcaster DR. “It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Is NATO the same as before? I don’t think so when you spy on each other.”

Her comments reflect growing concern across Greenland that the island’s political autonomy and natural resources are being targeted as part of a broader geopolitical play. Greenland, while part of the Kingdom of Denmark, exercises significant self-governance and has long debated eventual independence — a possibility that could draw interest from powers like the United States seeking strategic and economic influence in the Arctic.

Long-simmering tensions resurface

Although the scandal over US spying in Greenland and Copenhagen has come to a head this week, it is far from the first point of tension between the two countries in recent years. In 2019, Trump surprised and offended Danish officials by publicly floating the idea of purchasing Greenland. At the time, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the proposal as “absurd,” prompting Trump to cancel a planned state visit to Copenhagen.

More recently, according to reporting from the Financial Times, Trump reasserted his ambitions in a phone call with Frederiksen in January, during which he reportedly insisted that he would gain control of Greenland. This insistence, combined with covert intelligence gathering, is being interpreted by some as a broader strategic campaign to lay the groundwork for future US influence in the region.

Vice President JD Vance added further strain to the relationship in March when he made an unscheduled visit to a US military base on Greenland. During the trip, Vance criticized Denmark for what he called “neglect” of the island and questioned the Scandinavian country’s reliability as an ally. Danish defense officials were particularly incensed by Vance’s remarks, especially considering Denmark’s active military support of the US in Afghanistan, where it suffered significant casualties relative to its population.

Following the publication of the Wall Street Journal story, the US intelligence community has refrained from issuing a full denial. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the classified directive but accused the newspaper of “politicising and leaking classified information.”

Denmark’s own Security and Intelligence Service issued a statement Wednesday warning of “an increased threat of espionage and of influence from foreign states against both Denmark and Greenland,” implicitly confirming the credibility of the WSJ report. The agency did not name the US directly but emphasized the growing vulnerability of Danish and Greenlandic institutions to foreign surveillance and manipulation.

Unprecedented diplomatic move

Calling in a foreign ambassador for consultations is an uncommon step among NATO allies and signals serious diplomatic friction. Rasmussen’s decision to do so indicates that Denmark views the alleged spying campaign as not only a breach of trust but also a potential threat to national sovereignty.

Denmark has historically maintained close relations with the United States, both within NATO and through bilateral cooperation in defense and intelligence. However, the repeated focus on Greenland — a region with increasing strategic and commercial importance due to melting ice caps and accessible natural resources — has made the territory a flashpoint for international competition.

With a population of just 57,000, Greenland holds a disproportionately large role in geopolitics due to its vast landmass, location in the Arctic, and untapped resource potential. The recent wave of US interest — perceived by many in Denmark as heavy-handed and politically motivated — is likely to spark a deeper reevaluation of the relationship between the allies.

What began as a controversial idea floated by a former US president has now evolved into a full-blown diplomatic incident, with potential implications for the future of NATO cohesion and transatlantic trust. While Danish officials have not suggested severing ties with Washington, there is mounting pressure for concrete assurances and transparency from the United States.

Pipaluk Lynge and other Greenlandic politicians have hinted at possible legislative action if diplomatic pressure fails to yield results. Meanwhile, Danish intelligence services are reportedly increasing their own surveillance activities to detect and counter foreign influence campaigns.

The allegations of US spying in Greenland and Copenhagen mark a troubling chapter in relations between two longstanding allies. Whether this incident leads to a shift in policy or a broader confrontation over Arctic influence remains to be seen, but for now, the fallout continues to deepen.