The United States is to increase espionage activities in Greenland in an effort to find sympathisers with its goal of seizing control of the territory, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Denmark has called in the US ambassador over a report that Washington is stepping up its espionage of politicians in Greenland and Copenhagen. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish foreign minister, said on Wednesday that he had read the article in the Wall Street Journal with “deep concern” as one did not spy on “friends” and that he had contacted the US envoy to convey Copenhagen’s disquiet over the reported spying activity.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's office last week sent a "collection emphasis message" to the CIA, NSA and other spy agencies directing them to collect intelligence about Greenland's independence movement and identify potential allies there and in Denmark who support Trump's objective of taking over the island,