COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s overseas minister summoned the highest U.S. diplomat within the nation for talks after the principle nationwide broadcaster reported Wednesday that no less than three individuals with connections to President Donald Trump have been finishing up covert affect operations in Greenland.
In a prolonged written assertion, the U.S. State Division confirmed that the deputy chief of mission in Copenhagen, Mark Stroh, had met with Danish overseas ministry officers. It declined to remark “on the actions of private U.S. citizens in Greenland.”
“The U.S. government does not control or direct the actions of private citizens,” it mentioned.
The division mentioned Stroh had “a productive conversation and reaffirmed the strong ties among the Government of Greenland, the United States, and Denmark.” It mentioned the U.S. values its relationships with each Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland and famous that Trump and his high aides had all mentioned they respect “the right of the people of Greenland to determine their own future.”
“We continue to foster engagement and cooperation with Denmark and Greenland to support increased security and prosperity for our nations,” it mentioned.
Stroh is the second American diplomat to be summoned by a European NATO ally this week because the Trump administration shakes up its strategy to overseas coverage. France had referred to as U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to its overseas ministry after he despatched a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron alleging the nation didn’t do sufficient to fight antisemitism.
The White Home didn’t supply a direct touch upon Denmark’s summons.
Trump has repeatedly mentioned he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, an enormous, semiautonomous territory of Denmark. He has not dominated out army drive to take management of the mineral-rich, strategically situated Arctic island.
Denmark and Greenland have mentioned the island is not on the market and condemned stories of the U.S. gathering intelligence there.
Public broadcaster DR mentioned Danish authorities and safety sources that it didn’t title, in addition to unidentified sources in Greenland and the U.S., consider that no less than three American nationals with connections to Trump have been finishing up covert affect operations within the territory.
A type of individuals allegedly compiled a listing of U.S.-friendly Greenlanders, collected names of individuals against Trump and acquired locals to level out instances that may very well be used to forged Denmark in a foul mild in American media, the broadcaster reported. Two others have tried to nurture contacts with politicians, businesspeople and locals, in keeping with the report.
DR mentioned its story was primarily based on data from a complete of eight sources, who consider the objective is to weaken relations with Denmark from inside Greenlandic society. It mentioned it had been unable to make clear whether or not the Individuals have been working at their very own initiative or on orders from another person. It mentioned it is aware of their names however selected to not publish them to guard its sources.
The Related Press couldn’t independently verify the report.
“We are aware that foreign actors continue to show an interest in Greenland and its position in the Kingdom of Denmark,” Danish Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen mentioned in a press release. “It is therefore not surprising if we experience outside attempts to influence the future of the Kingdom in the time ahead.”
“Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable,” Rasmussen mentioned.
Cooperation between the governments of Denmark and Greenland “is close and based on mutual trust,” he added.
The Danish Safety and Intelligence Service mentioned it believes that “particularly in the current situation, Greenland is a target for influence campaigns of various kinds” that might intention to create divisions within the relationship between Denmark and Greenland.
It mentioned it “assesses that this could be done by exploiting existing or fabricated disagreements, for example in connection with well-known individual cases, or by promoting or amplifying certain viewpoints in Greenland regarding the Kingdom, the United States, or other countries with a particular interest in Greenland.”
The service, identified by its Danish acronym PET, mentioned that in recent times, it has “continuously strengthened” its efforts and presence in Greenland in cooperation with authorities there, and can proceed to take action.
