Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting U.S. ambassador for an urgent meeting in Copenhagen on Thursday, following a report in the Wall Street Journal that claimed U.S. intelligence agencies had been ordered to step up spying on Greenland.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Hall Godfrey met with Danish officials and a representative from the Greenland government to address these allegations. The report said American agencies were directed to identify individuals in Greenland and Denmark aligned with U.S. strategic interests in the Arctic region.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen emphasized that Denmark made its concerns crystal clear. 'The purpose of the meeting was to make the Kingdom’s position completely clear. It is our impression that the acting ambassador took that seriously,' he told reporters, adding that the claims in the article have not been verified.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen condemned the reported activities as 'completely unacceptable' and 'entirely abnormal,' stressing that spying on an ally in Nuuk shows a lack of respect.
Greenland became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953 and has enjoyed home rule since 1979. While Denmark retains authority over foreign affairs and defense, the island’s evolving autonomy and strategic location in the Arctic have placed it at the center of geopolitical interest.
As tensions simmer, all eyes will be on how Copenhagen and Washington navigate this diplomatic challenge, and whether further clarifications or concessions will follow.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
