Denmark summons US envoy over alleged influence operations in Greenland

The top U.S. diplomat in Denmark was summoned for a meeting at the country's foreign ministry, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed on Wednesday, over alleged pro-American influence operations in Greenland.

"Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the kingdom will of course be unacceptable," Rasmussen said. "In that light, I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the U.S. chargé d'affaires for a meeting at the ministry."

The meeting came after Danish public broadcaster DR published a report in which unnamed government and security sources said that three Americans with connections to President Donald Trump were conducting influence operations in the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

DR said it was unclear whether the Americans were acting on their own initiative or under orders from others.

US tells Denmark to 'calm down' over alleged Greenland influence operation​

A White House official would not confirm an influence campaign was underway, but said: "We think the Danes need to calm down."

The Danish foreign minister's latest decision to summon the US charge d'affaires amounts to a "diplomatic yellow card" unprecedented in Danish relations with the US, according to Jens Ladefoged Mortensen of the University of Copenhagen.

"This hostile attitude towards Denmark from the Trump administration is shocking," he told the BBC. "As a pro-American country we're asking why are you doing this."