Denmark Warns Trump White House on Greenland Spying
Source: Newsweek
Published May 09, 2025 at 4:44 AM EDT | Updated May 09, 2025 at 11:31 AM EDT
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said "you cannot spy against an ally" after a news report that the U.S. is gathering more intelligence on Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory that U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to control. Frederiksen made the comment to the Associated Press a day after Denmarka NATO ally of the U.S.had summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen to explain the report to its foreign minister.
Why It Matters
Trump has shown interest in Greenland, a large Arctic island to the northeast of Canada, because of its significance to U.S. national security and its vast, untapped natural resources. He has said the U.S. will take control of Greenland eventually and has not ruled out military intervention, alarming American allies, particularly Denmark. The U.S. has a military base on the island.
What To Know
The heads of American intelligence agencies were directed to gather more information about Greenland's independence movement and attitudes to the U.S. extracting resources there, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the effort. This instruction came from high-ranking officials under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the Journal reported, and included an order to identify people in Greenland and Denmark who support U.S. objectives for the island.
Jennifer Hall Godfrey, acting head of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, met with high-ranking Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen at the Danish Foreign Ministry over the Journal article published on Tuesday. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster DR outside a meeting Wednesday with colleagues in Poland that Denmark would summon the U.S. diplomat to seek a "rebuttal" or other explanation following the report.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/denmark-warns-trump-white-house-greenland-spying-2070030

Blues Heron
(6,936 posts)PSPS
(14,542 posts)I guess it's all part of the new MAGA style guide, which includes "downsizing the US government" instead of "dismantling the US government.".
"because of its significance to U.S. national security and its vast, untapped natural resources" is ridiculous. Trump just saw how big Greenland looked on a mercator map and wanted his own USSR-sized empire to rule as a king. Just like his pal Vlad! "Do you like me now?" The "Canada as 51st state" was part of the fantasy from the "stabel jenius."
He wants to rebuild/enlarge alcatraz because of a movie he watched the night before.
His "deals" are consistent failures, but are predictable.
"Stop the ukraine war in one day" consisted of giving russia everything it wanted and, when ukraine balked, walked away leaving putin emboldened.
"Stop the Israel/Palestine war" consisted of giving bibi everything he wanted and, when Palestinians balked, walked away leaving bibi emboldened.
Any one of us could go on and on, so I'll just stop now and get some lunch.
hlthe2b
(109,690 posts)Nothing like mixed loyalties, but...
Damn, I detest this guy... (and no, I don't mean the PM of Denmark).
Aristus
(69,942 posts)is necessary for our security.
Next, they beat the drums of war.
Bayard
(25,062 posts)How is Greenland any more necessary for U.S. security now, than it was 100 years ago? 10 years ago?
Its trump's own version of Manifest Destiny, or empire building. Take your pick.