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Denmark Poised to Strengthen Military Cooperation with US Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Over Greenland.
As diplomatic relations between Copenhagen and Washington experience significant turbulence, Danish parliamentarians are preparing to ratify an important defense agreement signed with the United States in December 2023. This agreement grants unrestricted access to U.S. forces to three Danish military bases for an initial period of ten years. Nevertheless, this plan is provoking significant controversy within the Danish Parliament, with debates scheduled to begin on April 11, further fueled by troubling statements from the United States, notably from President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
U.S. special operations forces assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group fast rope out of a UH-47 Chinook helicopter near Aalborg, Denmark, Sep. 02, 2018 (Picture source: US DoD)
At the time of signing, under the Biden administration, the agreement was positively received by the Danish government, then led by Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described it as "historic," highlighting its strategic importance in strengthening collective defense and deterrence in Europe, especially amid ongoing tensions with Russia along Europe's eastern border. Denmark was thus following in the footsteps of other Nordic and Baltic countries that had concluded similar agreements with the United States.
The agreement specifically concerns military bases located in Jutland at Aalborg, Karup, and Skrydstrup, where the United States will be permitted to deploy personnel, equipment, and military hardware. These facilities will also allow U.S. forces to carry out maintenance activities, training, and regular military exercises, thereby strengthening their rapid response capabilities in times of crisis.
However, the geopolitical context has significantly altered following Donald Trump's return to power in the United States, particularly due to his recent threats to annex Greenland. These remarks have notably impacted Danish public opinion, traditionally supportive of the United States. According to a poll published by the Danish daily Berlingske on March 16, only 30% of Danes now support the deployment of U.S. troops on their territory. Additionally, a vast majority (92%) believes Denmark should prioritize Europe rather than the United States for security purposes, while 41% perceive the U.S. as a potential threat rather than a reliable ally.
This delicate situation places the Danish government in a complicated position. Despite growing opposition among the population and concerns voiced by several opposition parties, Denmark perceives the ratification of this agreement as indispensable for maintaining U.S. military support. As Peter Viggo Jakobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, points out, the United States remains essential to NATO's security, especially concerning potential threats from Russia. According to Jakobsen, no European ally currently possesses the capabilities to provide comparable security guarantees in the short term, compelling Denmark to continue its cooperation with Washington despite current tensions.
Additional concerns have also emerged from human rights organizations, notably the Danish Institute for Human Rights, which criticizes the extensive and vaguely defined powers granted to U.S. forces on Danish soil, highlighting the absence of local judicial oversight. Furthermore, the organization Dignity demands explicit guarantees against the use of torture or inhumane treatment during potential interrogations conducted by U.S. military personnel in Denmark. The issue of employing U.S. private military contractors, also included in the agreement, faces strong opposition from left-wing parties, who view it as an additional threat to national sovereignty.
Despite these controversies and concerns expressed by segments of the population and certain parliamentarians, the defense agreement is expected to be ratified due to support from a parliamentary majority. For Denmark, the crucial issue remains maintaining a strategic alliance with the United States while hoping Washington continues to fulfill its responsibilities within NATO, despite the current strained diplomatic climate.