Danish intelligence: Potential influence on Danish elections by America, Russia and other parties
The Danish intelligence service released a statement on Friday evening, February 27, 2026, entitled "Foreign countries may try to influence the general elections," which stated:
The threat to Denmark stems primarily from Russia, but it could also originate from other actors. Influence activities may aim to sow discord, manipulate public debate, or target specific candidates, parties, or political programs.
The Danish Police Intelligence Service (PET), the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE), and the Danish Agency for Community Security (SAMSIK) have prepared an assessment of the threat of influence activities on the general election scheduled for March 24, 2026.
The upcoming Danish parliamentary elections are taking place amid escalating great power competition. Russia is waging a hybrid war against the West, and the United States makes no secret of its desire to reshape the political landscape in Europe. China is using its economic power and growing military strength to exert pressure on other nations.
The United States' declared intention to annex Greenland has led to the spread of misinformation and disinformation about the Kingdom of Denmark, potentially creating uncertainty surrounding the upcoming general election. Furthermore, the US focus on Greenland has created new international fault lines that foreign powers, such as Russia and China, could exploit for influence purposes.
Foreign states constantly seek to influence political decision-making and public debate in Europe, including Denmark. These influence activities often aim to exploit existing divisions in public opinion, where conflict and polarization are easily instigated. Such activities may target specific events, such as elections, but they also occur in everyday life.
Denmark is highly likely, in the current situation, to be a distinct and priority target for Russian influence activities. These activities include disinformation, i.e., the deliberate dissemination of false or distorted messages, and less widespread cyberattacks, such as botnet overloads, and threats of serious cyberattacks.
Russia’s increased focus on Denmark stems from a number of factors. For example, Denmark’s extensive political, military, and economic support for Ukraine, including the production of Ukrainian weapons on Danish soil, has long contributed to Russia’s heightened interest in Denmark. This interest has also been intensified by the attention generated by the United States’ desire to control Greenland.
Russia is likely to engage in influence activities to try to exploit the elections to serve its own agenda, including creating divisions and weakening support for Ukraine. This may also target specific candidates, parties, and their campaigns.
According to the US National Security Strategy released in November 2025, the United States seeks to support movements that challenge the current political order in Europe. Any US attempts to influence public discourse in Europe could come from a variety of actors, including those with no formal ties to the US administration.
The authorities are closely monitoring developments and are constantly working to strengthen the community's resilience against foreign actors seeking to influence democratic processes in Denmark.
Influence activities and other hybrid incidents are often planned, making it difficult to quickly identify those responsible. The aim is to sow doubt and uncertainty.
The authorities carry out their work, among other things, through the Inter-Ministerial Impact Joint Task Force, which currently includes the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Government of Greenland, as well as the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (PET), the Danish Law Enforcement Agency (FE), the Danish National Security Agency (SAMSIK), and the National Police.
The statement has ended.
