Amateur Hour Greenland Operation

The diplomatic protest issued by Denmark in response to reported U.S. influence activities in Greenland is not routine, it is a formal objection to a breach of allied norms. What’s been exposed is not a covert operation gone awry, but an incompetent attempt to shape political outcomes through informal channels. It’s amateur hour, and the consequences are real.

There was no legitimate basis for covert action in Greenland; no strategic urgency, no crisis requiring clandestine engagement. To treat this as a botched operation is to entertain a false premise.

The Danish government’s language reflects this. By identifying the individuals involved as “close to President Trump” rather than professional intelligence officers, Copenhagen signals its view: this was not a sanctioned initiative subject to oversight, but a politically driven maneuver. One where individuals associated with President Trump are “LARPing” as intelligence operatives engaged in a cosplay of a covert action designed to influence domestic sentiment within Greenland. It’s not tradecraft, it’s theater. Denmark’s response, summoning the U.S. Chargé d’affaires and reaffirming Greenlandic sovereignty, makes clear that this was not seen as a misunderstanding. It was treated as an intrusion.

Greenland’s own government responded with quiet clarity. In early 2025, official statements reaffirmed that the island’s future belongs to its people. No individuals associated with the influence operation were named, but the timing and tone made the message unmistakable: Greenland is not a bargaining chip, and its sovereignty is not subject to external orchestration.

Recently, in early-August 2025, Council on Foreign Relations President Mike Froman argued that while Trump’s instincts about Greenland’s strategic value may have been “directionally correct,” the idea of acquisition was misguided. “We don’t want or need to take over Greenland,” Froman wrote. “We can get what the United States wants and needs without firing a shot or writing a big check.” European coverage has underscored the concern. French and German outlets have highlighted the timing of U.S. engagement and messaging around Greenland, interpreting it as part of a broader effort to shape perceptions in the region. Whether coordinated or coincidental, the optics suggest improvisation, not discipline.

The United States does not need a “deal” with Greenland. It needs clarity. The only credible posture in the Arctic is one that supports Denmark and Greenland’s sovereignty unequivocally, respects allied norms and remains alert to Russian strategic manifestations in the region. Anything less invites confusion and weakens the very alliances that underpin Arctic stability.

This episode is not a minor diplomatic hiccup; in fact, the United States current foreign policy engagement needs a lesson in diplomacy. It reflects a deeper erosion of process within the United States, where informal actors operate without oversight, and where shenanigans risk undermining decades of trust. Denmark’s protest to the United States is not just about Greenland, it is a signal that such behavior will not be tolerated.

If the U.S. intends to lead in the Arctic, it must do so with seriousness, not cosplay, not improvisation, and not amateur hour.

Christopher Burgess has spent a lifetime stewarding truth, from 30+ years in the CIA to executive roles in the private sector. His leadership bridges intelligence and enterprise, blending operational clarity with cultural acuity. Always in service of resilience, meaning, and mission. He is a member of The Steady State.

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 300 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.