I Caught a Spy and Learned Allies Do Watch Each Other
A Cold War encounter in a German pub revealed what Denmark and Greenland are now learning the hard way — even trusted partners spy on one another, because in geopolitics, loyalty has limits.
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Political leaders in Denmark and Greenland are outraged by reports that the United States is stepping up intelligence gathering in the autonomous Arctic territory.
According to The New York Times, the Danish government summoned the acting U.S. ambassador to express displeasure with the Trump administration’s renewed ambitions to take control of the world’s largest island. Greenland’s government is also seeking a meeting with Washington.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration ordered the NSA and other intelligence agencies to expand surveillance of Greenland, focusing on separatist movements. Trump has said he’d like to see Greenlanders vote to join the U.S. — and hasn’t ruled out using military force to take the island.
Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly stated the island isn’t for sale. The increased surveillance is raising alarms. As one Danish security journalist put it, “If you start being spied on by your own ally, it’s more than a diplomatic issue — it’s a breach of trust.”
Spying among allies isn’t new. It’s routine. I learned that firsthand in 1988.
As a young soldier stationed in Germany during the Cold War, I was regularly reminded to maintain operational security. American military television ran cheesy PSAs warning that innocent questions could be a cover for intelligence gathering. Seemingly trivial details could add up to actionable intelligence.
Off-duty, my friends and I frequented a local German pub. We mixed with locals, other soldiers, American dependents, and migrant workers. One regular was Pete Orr, a blond-haired construction worker from Edinburgh who quickly became part of our group.
Pete was funny, friendly, and curious. We drank beer, played darts, and explored the city. He asked many questions — about us, our backgrounds, and what went on at the base.
It didn’t go unnoticed. My Army buddies and I discussed it and began to wonder who he was. One night, after too many drinks and while Pete was vomiting behind a bush, I asked him point-blank if he was a spy.
He looked up and confessed: “I’m MI6, British intelligence. Allies spy on each other.”
I wasn’t sure if he was serious, but I reported it anyway. A few days later, plainclothes investigators asked me to show them where Pete lived and worked. After that, Pete vanished. I never saw him again.
That was my experience. Larry Walsh, accidental spy catcher. But it’s far from the only example.
Israel, a close ally of the U.S., has repeatedly crossed the line. In 1985, Jonathan Pollard, a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was arrested for passing classified documents to Israel. The case damaged relations for years. Later, Israel was suspected of placing surveillance devices near the White House. And during the 2015 Iran nuclear negotiations, it reportedly obtained U.S. secrets and shared them with members of Congress to undermine the deal.
France has conducted economic espionage against the U.S. In the 1990s, the CIA accused French intelligence of stealing corporate secrets to help national firms. After the Snowden leaks in 2013 revealed NSA surveillance of French leaders, Paris responded with counter-surveillance against U.S. diplomats and businesses.
Germany was shocked to learn the NSA had tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone. The 2013 revelation caused political uproar. Ironically, it later came out that Germany’s own BND had helped the NSA spy on European companies and officials.
Even the U.K., bound to the U.S. through the Five Eyes alliance, has used legal loopholes to monitor American citizens. Both sides quietly engage in reciprocal surveillance to bypass domestic restrictions.
Turkey, another NATO member, has been caught spying on dissidents and diaspora communities across Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, prompting diplomatic protests.
Japan, one of America’s most trusted partners in Asia, hasn’t been immune, either. U.S. intelligence has tracked Japanese efforts to access sensitive technologies. Meanwhile, Japan has quietly resisted U.S. surveillance during trade negotiations.
So yes, Denmark and Greenland have every reason to be upset. The stepped-up surveillance is provocative, especially given Trump’s territorial ambitions. But spying among allies isn’t an anomaly. It’s standard operating procedure.