COPENHAGEN: Denmark summoned the US charge d’affaires on Wednesday after reports of attempted interference in Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory that US President Donald Trump wants to take over.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly said the United States needs the strategically located, resource-rich island for security reasons, and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure it.
At least three US officials close to Trump have been noticed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk trying to identify people they could use in anti-Denmark influence campaigns, according to Danish public television network DR.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement to AFP he was aware of “foreign actors” showing an interest in Greenland’s posoition within Denmark.
“Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable,” he said, adding that he had “asked the ministry of foreign affairs to summon the US charge d’affaires for a meeting at the ministry.”
