Zizania in Denmark round a protection settlement with the United States | EUROtoday

On Apr 11, 2025

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“NWe are delighted to see American soldiers on Danish soil. We wish them very warmly welcome. It was with these words that Danish Prime Minister puts Frederiksen, had praised the signing of a “historic settlement” in defense with the United States on December 21, 2023 in Washington, with administration Joe Biden.

An unprecedented cooperation agreement which opened the way, for the first time since the Second World War, to the permanent parking of foreign troops and material in Denmark in peacetime. Faced with the Russian threat of the other side of the Baltic, the Danish government had decided to take the plunge by inviting American forces on its territory, which could thus carry out military activities from their bases in Denmark and ensure increased protection of the kingdom.

“It is a transparent sign which reveals, based on Mette Frederiksen, that Denmark, alongside the United States, assumes a good better duty for the safety of the nation. And it’s completely mandatory within the present international state of affairs, the place there’s instability in lots of locations on this planet. »»

Confidence

But the boldness of the Danes within the star banner has been shaken in latest months by the repeated bulletins of the American president Donald Trump to take management in any respect prices of Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark within the Arctic. Witness of this disenchantment, the invoice to offer approval to the deployment of American troops has brought about a energetic debate within the nation since its presentation, on March 28, to the deputies.

This dissatisfaction with the best historic ally of the dominion is mirrored in a latest survey of the Epinion Institute. It signifies a relative majority (43 %) for the rejection of this settlement with the United States, whereas 28 % is favorable and 29 % are undecided. Summarizing the sensation of anger of an excellent fringe of the inhabitants in opposition to the United States of Trump, the writer Knud Vilby judges, in a column, “absurd that we must have a defense cooperation with a country which [les] militarily threat ”.

“Our closest ally has turn out to be our enemy, and we can’t think about a Danish parliament which freely provides entry to navy and intelligence actions to a rustic which threatens us each by financial struggle and navy stress” to acquire Greenland, “he writes.

This is why this controversial invoice, which have to be debated at first studying on Friday April 11, aroused fed criticisms throughout the parliamentary enclosure, amongst specialists and NGOs for the protection of human rights, in addition to on social networks, worry being that Denmark renounces its sovereignty by granting powers too in depth to American forces.

“Extended powers”

For an irrevocable interval of ten years, this settlement of 30 articles mentioned in Parliament authorizes the United States to park troops and gear, except for nuclear weapons and fragmentation bombs, on three air bases within the west of the nation (Karup, Aalborg, Skrystrup). “He gives more extensive powers to the Americans compared to the similar agreements concluded by Washington with Sweden, Norway and Finland, which set limits for the exercise of the power of American troops,” observes Peter Vedel Kessing, chief researcher on the Danish Human Rights Institute.

The American troopers, positioned below the jurisdiction of their nation, wouldn’t be prosecuted by the Danish justice for potential crimes dedicated in Denmark of their bases and out of doors. They may also be empowered to resort to drive in opposition to Danish civilians who would sort out their forces or gear. Despite these criticisms of this protection settlement, famous throughout a collection of consultations with civil society, the deputies largely expressed their intention to offer their inexperienced mild to this undertaking. Only two left events (unit and different record) are opposed.

Understanding “the concerns raised by this agreement”, Soren Gade, President of the Parliament and former Minister of Defense, says that his “greatest concern is whether one day [ils] born [sont] the closest ally of the United States. “

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The kangaroo of the day

Answer

“We have to use this settlement as a result of we would like an American presence and dedication. Europe additionally wants it, “insisted on the government’s heading last Tuesday, during oral questions in the Parliament, in response to the spokesperson for the unit list (far left), Pelle Dragsted, opposed to this bill” which calls into query the sovereignty of the dominion “.

Pragmatic, Put Frederiksen prefers to preserve “shut hyperlinks with the United States, guarantors with NATO of safety in Denmark” regardless of tense relations with the Trump administration which continues to get away with Greenland.

https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/zizanie-au-danemark-autour-d-un-accord-de-defense-avec-les-etats-unis-11-04-2025-2587086_24.php