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.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    5 hours ago

    I am very puzzled why our government is agreeing to this?
    USA has fucking threatened us with war over Greenland!

    • einkorn@feddit.orgEnglish
      111·
      4 hours ago

      When Copenhagen signed […] in December 2023, the idea […] was quite a different proposition to what it is today.

      It’s a deal from 2023 not today.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        17·
        4 hours ago

        Now, little more than a year on, as Denmark prepares to adopt the agreement next month after a vote in parliament on 11 June,

        It is not in force, we can still vote it out.

  • WHARRGARBL@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 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

  • Anonymaus@feddit.orgEnglish
    52·
    4 hours ago

    1998 Cavalese cable car crash, Germany: US soldiers held over fatal fairground stabbing, thats what happens when american soldier arent under jurisdiction of a country they are stationed in. How many more Europeans do have to die before ‘the government’ starts protecting us from those psychopaths

      • Buelldozer@lemmy.todayEnglish
        1·
        1 hour ago

        So I read the whole article and the acquittal happened because German Police did not translate the section informing the person what they were being accused of. That’s no small thing.

        Then there’s the fact that the German Police kept turning off the recording during the interrogation, there’s no mention of “homicide” on the recordings, and you can’t hear the accused voice on the recordings!

        So basically there’s no proof that the accused knew what he was charged with nor is there any direct recordings of his confession.

        The only thing this shit proves is that German Cops are as bad at their fucking jobs as American Cops.