Denmark Updates Military Orders After Trump’s Greenland Remarks
Denmark issues a “shoot first, ask questions later” directive to its troops in response to Donald Trump’s Greenland threat.
The Danish Defense Ministry told a local newspaper that troops have been ordered to open fire without any direct orders if there is an attempt to attack Greenland.
The Danish Defense Ministry told a local newspaper that troops have been ordered to open fire without any direct orders if there is an attempt to attack Greenland.
The directive is part of a 1952 Cold War-era rule that ordered troops to “immediately commence hostilities” against any foreign forces.
An independent report said that under the rule, troops must “act without waiting for or seeking orders, even if the commander is unaware of a declaration of war or a state of war.”
The rule has its roots in the Nazi invasion of Denmark in 1940, when German forces occupied Copenhagen and other Danish cities.
When the Danish army failed to confront the invading army, a larger arrangement was needed, leading to the introduction of the ‘shoot first’ rule.
The order has been in effect ever since.
Why does Trump want Greenland? What are his reasons?
Since the US launched a strike in the South American country of Venezuela and attempted to apprehend its leader, Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump has threatened similar action in several other places. Greenland is one of them.
Trump believes the US needs Greenland for defense purposes. Despite appeals from Danish and Greenlandic leaders to cease threatening to take control, Trump has reiterated his desire several times.
Trump recently told the media, “I will say this about Greenland—we need Greenland from a national security standpoint. It’s very strategic right now. Greenland is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships everywhere.”
Denmark is also a NATO member country and currently controls Greenland. When asked whether his priority was maintaining the NATO military alliance or acquiring Greenland, Trump told the New York Times, “It could be a choice.”
Trump’s aides spoke with envoys from Denmark and Greenland
Amidst growing demands from President Trump and his administration to acquire Greenland, some of the president’s close associates met with envoys from Denmark and Greenland on Thursday.
According to Reuters, Danish Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen and Greenland’s chief representative in Washington, Jakob Isbosethsen, met with officials from the White House National Security Council.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also expected to meet with some Danish officials on the issue.
Greenland has consistently rejected Trump’s desire to acquire the territory.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, recently criticized Trump’s statement that “we need Greenland,” calling the comparison to Venezuela and military intervention “disrespectful.”
