U.S. Amps Up Spying on Greenland and Denmark as Trump Covets New Territory

U.S. intelligence companies have been ordered final week to focus extra consideration on spying on Greenland and Denmark, two longtime American allies, in line with a brand new report from the Wall Road Journal. The order got here from two high-ranking officers below Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in line with the newspaper, as President Donald Trump continues to say he desires to take Greenland a method or one other.

The spying order, referred to as a “assortment emphasis message,” was despatched to the heads of U.S. intelligence companies instructing the usage of surveillance satellites, wiretaps, and spies to collect info in Greenland and Denmark, in line with the Journal. The objective is to be taught extra details about any individuals who could also be sympathetic to Trump’s quest to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Figuring out locals who might like Trump and his specific model of fascism would presumably permit the U.S. to offer these individuals with help and increase their message around the globe. This sort of technique was tremendously standard in the course of the Chilly Battle, because the U.S. invested closely in amplifying anti-Soviet sentiment, typically going as far as to invent fake writers to look in newspapers.

The brand new directions to deal with Greenland are categorised, in line with the Journal, which cites two “individuals aware of the matter.” And Tulsi Gabbard, an extremist who pretends to be an isolationist, targeted on the categorised nature of the order when responding to the newspaper’s request for remark.

“The Wall Road Journal must be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who search to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking categorised info,” Gabbard stated. “They’re breaking the legislation and undermining our nation’s safety and democracy.”

Greenland, an island of simply 56,000 individuals, first grew to become a fixation of Trump’s throughout his first time period as president in 2019 when he reportedly wished to speak with Denmark about taking on the nation. Information of Trump’s curiosity in Greenland leaked to the press, and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated she had little interest in speaking about it. Trump acted like a petulant youngster over the matter, as he so typically does, canceling a meeting between the 2 world leaders. Trump later tweeted an image of a Trump Tower in Greenland with the message, “I promise not to do that to Greenland!”

I promise not to do that to Greenland! pic.twitter.com/03DdyVU6HA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019

Trump’s obsession with taking on Greenland got here again into full drive after he received the 2024 presidential election. JD Vance even traveled to Greenland in March to make an especially insulting speech to American allies, claiming that Denmark hadn’t been a superb protector of the island. Trump has repeatedly tried to counsel that America would take higher care of Greenland, with a latest New York Occasions report suggesting the White Home might attempt to float a $10,000 annual payment to all Greenlanders as a type of common primary revenue.

Trump has additionally pushed out a propaganda video that insists it’s a part of Greenland’s “future” to turn into a part of the US. However Greenlanders themselves have little interest in changing into a part of the U.S., in line with opinion polls. Eighty-five p.c of Greenlanders don’t need to be a part of the U.S., with simply 6% in favor and 9% undecided, in line with the Guardian.

Trump has beforehand stated that he thinks he can persuade the individuals of Greenland that it’s a superb deal for the nation to be conquered by the U.S., and this new spying effort looks like it will likely be a part of a propaganda push simply over the horizon. Trump was requested throughout an interview on Meet the Press this previous Sunday whether or not he would rule out utilizing drive in opposition to Greenland.

“I don’t rule it out,” Trump informed NBC News. “I don’t say I’m going to do it, however I don’t rule out something. No, not there. We’d like Greenland very badly. Greenland is a really small quantity of individuals, which we’ll deal with, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. However we want that for worldwide safety.”

Even when Trump doesn’t get buy-in, it appears doubtless he’ll attempt to make a play for the island in some trend earlier than he leaves workplace. And it’s not like he’s hiding his objectives. The president has been constant in saying that he’s going to have Greenland finally.

“We’d like Greenland for nationwide safety and even worldwide safety, and we’re working with everyone concerned to attempt to get it,” Trump stated in March whereas speaking to Congress for your entire world to listen to. “Someway, we’re going to get it.”