Deal would allow US to carry out military activities in and from Denmark, giving them powers over Danish civilians

When Copenhagen signed a new defence agreement giving the US “unhindered access” to Danish airbases in December 2023, the idea of granting sweeping powers to US forces on Danish soil was quite a different proposition to what it is today.

The US, then under the Biden administration, was an unwavering Nato ally that Denmark had followed into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Nordic neighbours Sweden, Finland and Norway had similar agreements with the US.

But then Donald Trump returned to power, making an unprecedented push to acquire or seize Greenland, a strategically vital part of the Danish kingdom. He has refused to rule out using military force to take over the island, and US intelligence agencies have reportedly been ordered to increase espionage in the territory.

Now, little more than a year on, as Denmark prepares to adopt the agreement next month after a vote in parliament on 11 June, when it is expected to be approved, fears are growing about its potential implications.

The deal means US soldiers will be in Denmark under US jurisdiction, meaning that if they were to commit a crime anywhere in Denmark they would in the first instance be punished under the US, not Danish, legal system.

  • WHARRGARBL@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    7 hours ago

    … Danish unity party called the new US powers “alarming”. The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Trine Pertou Mach, told Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten: “It is quite far-reaching that we are handing over law enforcement powers to a foreign country’s military police.”

    According to the agreement it is irrevocable for 10 years. But last week, the Danish foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said that if the US were to take over Greenland, Denmark would be able to pull out early.

    “It goes without saying that a complete or partial American annexation of Greenland would entitle Denmark to terminate the defence cooperation agreement,” he wrote in a parliamentary response.

    It’s fine to give the violent domestic abuser many big guns and keys to the house, because there’s a protection order. So if the victim is killed, we can kick out Mr Bullyface.

    -Lars logic