US spy agencies have been ordered to accelerate intelligence-gathering efforts on Greenland’s independence movements and attitudes towards President Trump’s ambition for American sovereignty over the territory.
In an order last week Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, also told spy chiefs to find out about people in Greenland and Denmark — which has sovereignty over the island at present — who are sympathetic to American interests, including mineral exploration.
The directive, which could lead to the deployment of satellite surveillance, communications intercepts and even agents on the ground, would result in America’s various spy agencies being used to support Trump’s repeated aim of controlling Greenland. He has made similar statements about Canada and the Panama Canal.
James Hewitt, a national security council spokesman, told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story, that the White House did not comment on intelligence matters, adding: “The president has been very clear that the US is concerned about the security of Greenland and the Arctic.”
Denmark is a member of Nato, and citizens of Greenland have Danish and European Union citizenship.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said at a European parliament debate on Tuesday that the people of Greenland should be able to make their own choices, free from external pressure. Kallas did not criticise Trump or the United States by name but stressed that “borders are inviolable and territorial integrity must be respected”.
• Why does Trump want Greenland?
Gabbard’s intervention came in the form of a “collection emphasis message” to intelligence-agency heads. The classified message demanded that agencies including the CIA, Defence Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency find those who support US objectives for the island.
In a statement addressing the report, Gabbard said: “The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the president by politicising and leaking classified information. They are breaking the law and undermining our nation’s security and democracy.”
Earlier this year JD Vance, the vice-president, visited Greenland along with Mike Waltz, who was national security adviser until last week. It followed a visit by Donald Trump Jr, the president’s son.
