U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly been directed to ramp up surveillance efforts in Greenland, marking the first concrete step toward President Donald Trump’s frequently expressed ambition to bring the Arctic territory under American influence, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal citing leaked sources.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reports that according to the Journal, the classified guidance instructed the CIA, National Security Agency (NSA), and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to pinpoint Danish and Greenlandic individuals who could support U.S. strategic goals, and to assess local attitudes regarding American interest in the region’s natural resources. News of the directive prompted swift backlash from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who criticized the unauthorized disclosure as an attempt to sabotage the administration’s policy.
“The Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of aiding deep state actors who seek to undermine the President by politicizing and leaking classified information,” Gabbard said in a statement to the Journal. “They are breaking the law and undermining our nation’s security and democracy.”
Described as a “collection emphasis message,” the reported directive, which began circulating late last week, broadens intelligence-gathering priorities to include Denmark—whose kingdom encompasses Greenland—beyond traditional national security threats. The Journal noted that while a National Security Council spokesperson declined to address intelligence issues, the official affirmed that “the president has been very clear that the U.S. is concerned about the security of Greenland and the Arctic.”
President Trump has repeatedly asserted the strategic necessity of acquiring Greenland, most recently during a joint session of Congress in March, where he stated the U.S. “needs” the island “for national security and even international security” and is prepared to obtain it “one way or the other.” When asked by NBC News on Sunday if he would exclude the use of force, the president replied that he “won’t rule out anything.”
The Daily Caller adds that in late March, Vice President JD Vance, then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright traveled to Greenland—a move that drew condemnation from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She said the visit amounted to “unacceptable pressure” on both Greenland’s residents and the Danish government.
Greenland, home to about 56,000 people, is rich in rare earth minerals, oil, and natural gas. However, extraction has long been hindered by the region’s harsh environment and underdeveloped infrastructure. Former U.S. intelligence officials told the Journal that the island has historically received limited surveillance attention, as resources have typically focused on adversarial threats rather than allied nations.
