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 keeping with a brand new report from the Wall Road Journal. The order got here from two high-ranking officers underneath Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in keeping with the newspaper, as President Donald Trump continues to say he desires to take Greenland a technique 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 data in Greenland and Denmark, in keeping 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 could like Trump and his explicit model of fascism would presumably permit the U.S. to offer these individuals with assist and enhance their message around the globe. This sort of technique was tremendously in style in the course of the Chilly Battle, because the U.S. invested closely in amplifying anti-Soviet sentiment, generally going as far as to invent fake writers to seem in newspapers.

The brand new directions to deal with Greenland are categorised, in keeping with the Journal, which cites two “individuals conversant in 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 needs to be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who search to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking categorised data,” 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 little one over the matter, as he so usually 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 power 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 great 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 could attempt to float a $10,000 annual payment to all Greenlanders as a type of common fundamental earnings.

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

Trump has beforehand stated that he thinks he can persuade the individuals of Greenland that it’s a great deal for the nation to be conquered by the U.S., and this new spying effort looks as if 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 power in opposition to Greenland.

“I don’t rule it out,” Trump instructed NBC News. “I don’t say I’m going to do it, however I don’t rule out something. No, not there. We want 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’d like 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 style earlier than he leaves workplace. And it’s not like he’s hiding his targets. The president has been constant in saying that he’s going to have Greenland finally.

“We want Greenland for nationwide safety and even worldwide safety, and we’re working with all people concerned to try to get it,” Trump stated in March whereas speaking to Congress for the complete world to listen to. “Come what may, we’re going to get it.”