Denmark will summon the US ambassador for talks to discuss reports that Washington has ordered its spy agencies to focus on Greenland, the European country's Foreign Ministry said.
The report on the alleged espionage was published by the American Wall Street Journal, and is linked to President Donald Trump's threats that America would take over the island.
"I am very concerned because we do not spy on our friends," said Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark's foreign minister.
US intelligence agencies have been ordered to target the independence movement of this semi-autonomous territory, and Washington's goal is to obtain Greenland's mineral resources, the newspaper writes.
Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, did not deny the information in the report, but accused the Wall Street Journal of "undermining" Trump by "politicizing and publishing classified information."
This "violates the law and undermines national security and democracy," she added.
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Rasmussen met with foreign ministers of European Union members in Warsaw, telling them the report was "somewhat disturbing."
"We will invite the American ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to try to confirm this information."
"It seems like those (officials) who have spoken about it haven't strongly denied the allegations. That worries me," he said.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) did not comment on the American newspaper's allegations, but confirmed to Danish media that it was "normal" for them to have noted America's interest in Greenland.
Due to increased international interest in Greenland, espionage threats to Denmark have increased, they added.
Trump has repeatedly said he will seize Greenland, and in a recent interview with NBC News, he did not rule out the possibility of using military force in that endeavor.
"I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but I'm not writing anything off."
"We need Greenland very much. There are a small number of people living there, who we will take care of and respect, and all that."
"But we need it for international security," Trump says.
Watch the video: Is Trump planning to buy Greenland?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LGCwqYFD-Qc
The US president declared during a speech to Congress in March that the country would get Greenland "one way or another".
Danish officials condemned US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Greenland the same month.
His arrival at the remote US base is "a completely unacceptable pressure on Greenland, its politicians and the population," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Former US President Joseph Biden criticized Trump for his intentions to reclaim the Panama Canal, seize Greenland, and make Canada the 51st US state.
"What the hell is going on here? What kind of president talks like that? We're not like that," Biden told the BBC.
"Our values are freedom, democracy and opportunity, not confiscation," he added.
Greenland is the largest island in the world and has been part of Denmark for about 300 years.
It has its own administration and makes independent decisions on internal matters, but decisions on foreign policy and defense are made in Copenhagen.
America's interest in the island goes back a long way.
During World War II, this country had a military base there, and Trump also wants the rare mineral resources found there.
Surveys show that a significant majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark, but do not want to become part of America.
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