“Shoot First, Ask Later”: Denmark Warns US Against Military Move on Greenland.
Denmark’s Defence Ministry has issued a stark warning to the United States, saying Danish troops would open fire immediately without waiting for orders if anyone attempted to invade Greenland. The statement comes amid renewed US interest in the Arctic territory, which is under Danish sovereignty.
The ministry cited a Cold War-era directive from 1952, originally created after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark in 1940. Under the rule, troops are instructed to respond instantly to any foreign threat to Danish territory. The Joint Arctic Command in Greenland would ultimately determine what constitutes an attack.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled interest in acquiring Greenland, claiming the Arctic territory is crucial to US national security due to Russian and Chinese naval activity. Speaking to The New York Times, Trump said he prefers outright ownership of Greenland rather than a lease or treaty, arguing that ownership provides strategic advantages that agreements cannot.
While the US has broad rights to establish military posts in Greenland under a 1951 treaty—subject to Danish and Greenlandic consent—both Copenhagen and Nuuk insist the territory is not for sale. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any military attempt would jeopardize NATO. “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” she told Danish broadcaster TV2.
US Vice President JD Vance defended Washington’s stance, arguing that Denmark has not done enough to enable Greenland to serve as a “global security anchor.” He emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance for missile defense and international security.
Meanwhile, Denmark and Greenland’s envoys met with White House officials to dissuade US lawmakers and administration figures from pursuing the Greenland plan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to hold further talks with Danish officials next week.
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