It’s been some time since I had an update on Greenland.
Back in June, I noted that the Trump administration is considering financing a $120 million rare earths mining project in Greenland through a loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) to Critical Metals Corp, in what would be the administration’s first overseas investment in a mining venture. No funds have been disbursed; however, the company plans to complete a feasibility study by the end of 2025.
However, the potential deal may be facing some polar headwinds. The Danish foreign minister summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen after Denmark’s national broadcaster reported that at least three people connected to President Donald Trump were carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland, allegedly trying to sway residents to align more robustly with U.S. interests.
Denmark, a NATO ally of the U.S., and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. gathering intelligence there.Danish public broadcaster DR reported Wednesday that government and security sources which it didn’t name, as well as unidentified sources in Greenland and the U.S., believe that at least three Americans with connections to Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in the territory.One of those people allegedly compiled a list of U.S.-friendly Greenlanders, collected names of people opposed to Trump and got locals to point out cases that could be used to cast Denmark in a bad light in American media. Two others have tried to nurture contacts with politicians, businesspeople and locals, according to the report.
To be fair to Trump, he has been forthright about the effort to woo the Greenlanders. So how “covert” were these people, exactly? How connected are they to the administration, beyond being fans of the President, America, and capitalism?
Additionally, as the last Greenland election demonstrated, many residents of the Arctic Island would like more independence from Denmark. That’s not on Trump, but on the choices the Danish government has made.
In response, American officials have advised the Danes to “calm down.”
The US has told Denmark to “calm down” after the top US diplomat in Copenhagen was summoned over claims that Americans had been conducting covert operations in Greenland.
A US state department spokesperson said Chargé d’Affaires Mark Stroh had met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding he had had a “productive conversation” that “reaffirmed the strong ties” between Greenland, Denmark and the US.The spokesperson could not comment on “the actions of private US citizens in Greenland”, but said the US had always respected the right of the people of Greenland to “determine their own future”.
But there may be slightly more to this story.
Legal Insurrection readers will recall the Trump administration just pulled the plug on Connecticut’s Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island. The move came after 80% of the construction was complete.
Hot Air’s Beege Welborne explains why this may have contributed to Danish diplomatic unhappiness. The Danish government owns nearly 51% of the company constructing Revolution Wind, Orsted.
The Danish government owns almost 51% of the company. If you don’t think this doesn’t put an entirely different wrinkle on this Revolution evolution, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.Now. My running theory was that Trump was going to use the shutdown as leverage to force the New England/Mid-Atlantic governors into a cave, much as he did with Hochul and the gas pipeline when they paused Empire Wind.But industry minds were thinking way out ahead of me, and they see this power move as a shot over the bow for Greenland.Could be. The situation happens to tie two of Trump’s favorite subjects – one a pet peeve, one a coveted objective – together.
So, perhaps Trump’s team was completely truthful, the move had a national security component. Just not the ones we were thinking about.
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