The Trump administration has made a chilling threat: if it can't buy Greenland, it may take it by military force. Top aide Stephen Miller claimed that "nobody's going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland." But Danish troops are required to shoot first and ask questions later.
According to a 1952 royal decree, Danish military units have a duty to defend Danish territory if it is subjected to an armed attack. This means they can take immediate defensive action even if circumstances make it impossible to await further political or military instruction.
Despite Denmark's small military, the Danish Defense Command says it is ready to defend Greenland. The country has modest numbers of troops stationed at bases around Greenland, including Station Nord, the northernmost military base in the world. A Danish Arctic Response Force stands ready to support forces in Greenland.
But Trump's imperial ambitions remain unwavering. He claims ownership is "very important" and says he wants to take whatever steps necessary to annex or acquire Greenland as a territory of the United States. President Trump has already repeated baseless claims that there are Russian destroyers and submarines all over Greenland, threatening that Russia or China will take over if the US doesn't.
The Danish government has rejected these threats, saying Greenland is not for sale, not for conquest, and not a bargaining chip. "Threatening to seize territory from an ally undermines basic international law and destabilizes one of the United States' most important alliances in NATO," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who introduced the "Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act."
The Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act, which was introduced by Rep. Randy Fine, would authorize Trump to annex or acquire Greenland as a territory of the United States. However, this legislation has not been made public, raising concerns about Trump's intentions.
As tensions rise between Denmark and the US over Greenland, the international community is watching with concern. "If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
According to a 1952 royal decree, Danish military units have a duty to defend Danish territory if it is subjected to an armed attack. This means they can take immediate defensive action even if circumstances make it impossible to await further political or military instruction.
Despite Denmark's small military, the Danish Defense Command says it is ready to defend Greenland. The country has modest numbers of troops stationed at bases around Greenland, including Station Nord, the northernmost military base in the world. A Danish Arctic Response Force stands ready to support forces in Greenland.
But Trump's imperial ambitions remain unwavering. He claims ownership is "very important" and says he wants to take whatever steps necessary to annex or acquire Greenland as a territory of the United States. President Trump has already repeated baseless claims that there are Russian destroyers and submarines all over Greenland, threatening that Russia or China will take over if the US doesn't.
The Danish government has rejected these threats, saying Greenland is not for sale, not for conquest, and not a bargaining chip. "Threatening to seize territory from an ally undermines basic international law and destabilizes one of the United States' most important alliances in NATO," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who introduced the "Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act."
The Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act, which was introduced by Rep. Randy Fine, would authorize Trump to annex or acquire Greenland as a territory of the United States. However, this legislation has not been made public, raising concerns about Trump's intentions.
As tensions rise between Denmark and the US over Greenland, the international community is watching with concern. "If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.