Denmark's PM says 'you can't spy against an ally' after claims of US gathering intelligence on Greenland

The Danish prime minister has said "you cannot spy against an ally" after the US reportedly stepped up intelligence gathering on Greenland.

Mette Frederiksen's comments are the latest in the ongoing row over Donald Trump's efforts to push for US control over the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

The remarks come after a report in America claimed Washington's spy agencies have been told to focus on Greenland, including on its independence movement, and sentiment around US extraction of its mineral resources.

On Thursday, Jennifer Hall Godfrey, acting head of the US embassy in Copenhagen, was summoned to a meeting with senior Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen for an explanation over The Wall Street Journal report.

Denmark's foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the information in Tuesday's article was "very worrying" and "we don't spy between friends".

"We are looking at this with quite a lot of seriousness," he added.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the reports of espionage were unacceptable and disrespectful.

Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, did not deny the story, which Ms Frederiksen referred to as "rumours", but did condemn those responsible for leaking classified information.

Ms Gabbard said in a statement that she had made three "criminal" referrals to the US justice department over intelligence community leaks.

The Wall Street Journal "should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the president by politicising and leaking classified information", she said.

"They are breaking the law and undermining our nation's security and democracy. Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

In March, Mr Nielsen said Washington was "not getting" the country.

Greenland, a huge, mineral-rich island, is a self-governing territory of Denmark - a NATO ally of the US.

Mr Trump has said he wants to annex the territory, claiming the US needs it for national security purposes.

In March, a White House official said Greenland's supply of rare earth minerals would power the next generation of the US economy.

Speaking to Sky News' US partner network NBC News that month, Mr Trump said that military force was not off the table with regards to acquiring Greenland.

He said: "I think there's a good possibility that we could do it without military force", but warned: "I don't take anything off the table."

Read more on Sky News:
India warns over retaliation
Key parts of UK-US trade deal
Nottingham attack survivor 'wishes she had died'

Greenland's residents and politicians have reacted with anger to his repeated suggestions, with Danish leaders also criticising them.

Mr Nielsen was speaking days after US Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland with his wife Usha and senior US officials.

Mr Vance went to an American military base on the island and claimed Denmark has "not done a good job" in relation to the territory.

He said: "Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland.

"You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people."

(c) Sky News 2025: Denmark's PM says 'you can't spy against an ally' after claims of US gathering intelligen