WSJ: US steps up intelligence efforts in Greenland

In a move that signals renewed White House interest in acquiring Greenland, U.S. intelligence agencies have been directed to increase their surveillance and information-gathering efforts concerning the Arctic island, according to two individuals familiar with the matter.

Last week, several senior officials under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a classified “collection emphasis message” to heads of key intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the NSA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The directive prioritises understanding Greenland’s independence movement and local attitudes toward American resource extraction, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The message, which represents one of the Trump administration’s first tangible steps in its campaign to gain control of the island, calls for agencies to identify figures in both Greenland and Denmark who may be sympathetic to U.S. objectives. The tools available for this mission reportedly include surveillance satellites, intercepted communications, and human intelligence assets.

A former senior U.S. intelligence officer told reporters that Greenland has historically not been a primary target for American intelligence efforts. “Intelligence collection resources are inherently limited,” the former official said, noting that they have generally focused on “perceived threats, not allied countries.”

The collection-emphasis message follows President Donald Trump’s persistent public expressions of interest in Greenland, which forms part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has a population of approximately 56,000. The island is rich in rare-earth minerals and contains untapped energy reserves, making it a valuable strategic asset amid rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic.

In a March address to Congress, Trump reiterated his ambitions. “We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it,” he said. “One way or the other, we’re going to get it.”

The White House declined to comment directly on intelligence operations. National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt said only, “The president has been very clear that the U.S. is concerned about the security of Greenland and the Arctic.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responded sharply to reports on the directive, criticising the media for publicising classified information. “The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking classified information,” she said. “They are breaking the law and undermining our nation’s security and democracy.”

A high-profile U.S. delegation—including Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright—visited Greenland in late March, triggering backlash in Copenhagen and Nuuk. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Danish television that the visit applied “completely unacceptable pressure on Greenland, Greenlandic politicians and the Greenlandic population,” as well as on Denmark. “President Trump is serious,” she added. “He wants Greenland.”

Asked during an NBC News interview whether he would rule out using military force to take control of the island, Trump declined to offer any assurances. “I don’t rule it out,” he said. “I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.”

By Vugar Khalilov