Denmark summoned the US charge d'affaires on Wednesday after reports of attempted interference in Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory that US President Donald Trump wants to take over.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly said the United States needs the strategically located, resource-rich island for security reasons, and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure it.
At least three US officials close to Trump have been noticed in Greenland's capital Nuuk trying to identify people they could use in anti-Denmark influence campaigns, according to Danish public television network DR.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement to AFP he was aware of "foreign actors" showing an interest in Greenland's posoition within Denmark.
"Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom will of course be unacceptable," he said, adding that he had "asked the ministry of foreign affairs to summon the US charge d'affaires for a meeting at the ministry".
Most of Greenland's 57,000 people want to become independent from Denmark, according to a January poll, but do not wish to become part of the US.
Both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted the Arctic island is not for sale and that it will decide its future itself.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was taking the matter seriously.
"I note that the Americans have not clearly rejected the DR report today, and that is of course serious," she told Danish television.
The Wall Street Journal reported in May that US intelligence agencies had been ordered to find out more about Greenland's independence movement and opinions on American exploitation of resources.
According to the newspaper, intelligence agencies had been asked to identify people in Greenland and Denmark who supported US objectives.
Frederiksen reacted angrily to that report at the time, saying: "You cannot spy against an ally."
Like the United States, Denmark is a founding member of NATO and has recently fought alongside America in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the DR report on Wednesday, the US officials were trying to gather information on issues that have created tension between Greenland and Denmark -- which could be used to present Denmark in a bad light.
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