Danish media reported today that at least three US officials connected to the Trump administration recently visited Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. They attempted to gather information on issues that have caused tension between the island and the Danish government, such as the separation of Greenlandic children from their families and a forced contraception scandal.
"We have noticed continued interest from foreign powers in Greenland and its position within Denmark. Therefore, it is not surprising that we see attempts from outside to influence Greenland's future," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
He stated that any attempt to interfere in Denmark's internal affairs is "unacceptable." "I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the US charge d'affaires for a meeting at the ministry," Rasmussen added.
The US mission in Copenhagen is currently headed by Charge d'Affaires Mark Stroh. The US Embassy has not yet commented on the matter. A charge d'affaires is the head of a diplomatic mission in the absence of an ambassador.
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A view of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. Photo: Reuters |
A view of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. Photo: Reuters
Greenland is the world's largest island, located near North America, between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The island belongs to Denmark, has a population of 57,000, and an area of about 2.16 million km2, larger than Mexico and more than three times the size of Texas.
The island lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe, making it a strategically important location for Washington. Greenland has abundant mineral resources, mostly untapped.
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire for the US to purchase Greenland from Denmark, not ruling out the possibility of using force to achieve this goal.
During a House hearing last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the Pentagon is "prepared for any scenario" when asked if the US was truly willing to use force to control Greenland. However, he declined to provide further details of the plan, despite numerous questions from lawmakers.
Polls indicate that most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark but do not want to join the US. The Danish government has repeatedly stated that Greenland is "not for sale" and criticized the Trump administration's actions.
Huyen Le (AFP, Reuters)
