Greenland's future

Løkke on US infiltration: Would violate all rules

If it is true that Trump-linked men are conducting influence operations in Greenland, it violates "all international rules". This is what Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen says at a lightning press conference after Danmarks Radio's revelation earlier today.

- It is important that we gain some insight into this so that our populations - this applies to both Greenland and Denmark - also know what we risk facing.

He adds that the Danes are "fully aware" that foreign actors are trying to influence the relationship between Greenland and Denmark.

Earlier today, Løkke summoned US chargé d'affaires Mark Stroh, the country's top diplomat in Denmark, to a meeting.

- Countries cannot cooperate properly if there are also influence campaigns underway.

Sources: Trump-connected men in Greenland carry out secret influence campaigns

At least three Americans with close ties to US President Donald Trump are trying to infiltrate Greenland and carry out secret influence operations on the island, eight Greenlandic and American sources tell Danmarks Radio.

The main goal is said to be to weaken Greenland's relationship with Denmark in order to make the Greenlanders submit to the US.

- We are all worried about this, a source tells DR.

The men are said to have tried to build a network of contacts with Greenlandic politicians, businessmen and citizens during several visits to the island. One of the men is said to have listed all Greenlanders who support Trump's plans to take over Greenland. It is not clear whether the men are working on their own initiative or receiving direct orders from the US leadership. 

Analysis: Trump still dreams of Greenland

Anyone who thinks that Donald Trump has abandoned plans to take over Greenland must now think again. This is what Ash Rostrup writes in a quick analysis on Danish TV2 after Danmarks Radio's investigation into three Trump-linked men trying to infiltrate the island.

It is "completely unacceptable" from a Danish perspective, which becomes clear when Denmark's foreign minister immediately calls in the top US diplomat, Rostrup continues.

"Such conversations are normally reserved for representatives of rogue states."

In DR, investigative journalist Niels Fastrup, who together with Lisbeth Quass has revealed the scheme, says that criminal measures could be used against the American men. Trying to break Denmark apart in this way could, for example, constitute treason.

- But our sources also tell us that it may be difficult to use those paragraphs in this situation, since Greenland basically has the right to break away. So it's a bit of a legal gray area, he says.

Expert: The US is behaving like a bully – similar to Putin

The US attempts to influence Greenland are serious, but not surprising. This is what Jacob Kaarsbo, a security policy analyst and former employee of the Danish police intelligence service PET, tells Dagbladet.

– The US under Trump is behaving like a bully state, even though we are formally allies. He is going against NATO's charter, recognizing neither borders nor the sovereignty of states and stooping to Vladimir Putin's level.

Several of Trump's wealthy donors are pressuring the president to establish tech businesses in Greenland – among them, future ambassador Ken Howery is a supporter of this idea, according to Kaarsbo.