In a dramatic escalation of a simmering diplomatic row, Denmark has issued a stark warning to the United States, stating its military will "shoot first" if necessary to protect its sovereignty in Greenland. The confrontation centres on a planned US scientific expedition that Copenhagen claims is proceeding without proper authorisation.
The Core of the Dispute: An Unauthorised Expedition
The flashpoint is a research project named "Audacious Project - East Greenland 2024-2025". The expedition, led by American geologist Professor John Goodge, aims to drill for rock samples in a remote, glacier-covered region of northeastern Greenland. The goal is to uncover some of Earth's oldest rocks, potentially over 3.6 billion years old, to study the planet's early crust formation.
However, the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, which governs Greenland's subsoil, has rejected the project's application for a research permit. Despite this rejection, the US team, reportedly with support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF), appears to be moving forward with logistical preparations. This has triggered alarm in Copenhagen, which views the unauthorised activity as a direct challenge to Danish sovereignty over Greenland.
Denmark's Unprecedented "Shoot First" Ultimatum
The situation reached a boiling point when Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen addressed the issue in the national parliament, the Folketing. He delivered an unambiguous message to the United States regarding the unauthorised activities of its citizens in Greenland.
"We of course hope that it does not come to that, but we are forced to react if they do not comply with our demands," Poulsen stated. He emphasised that the Danish military's Arctic Command is prepared to intervene, including the potential use of force. "We are deployed there, and we will shoot first if there is any doubt," he declared, underscoring the seriousness with which Denmark views the breach of its regulations.
This robust stance is rooted in the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which Denmark interprets as giving it exclusive control over research permissions in Greenland. The Danish government insists all scientific work must have its explicit green light.
Broader Implications and Arctic Geopolitics
This dispute transcends a single research project, highlighting the increasingly tense geopolitical landscape in the Arctic. The region, rich in resources and gaining strategic importance due to climate change and new shipping routes, is seeing growing competition among global powers.
Denmark's forceful response signals its determination to assert absolute control over its vast Arctic territory. Any perceived encroachment, even from a close NATO ally like the United States, is being met with a firm and public rebuke. The "shoot first" rhetoric, while likely a worst-case scenario warning, is intended to leave no room for ambiguity about Copenhagen's resolve.
For the United States, which maintains a significant Thule Air Base in Greenland, this incident presents a delicate diplomatic challenge. It must balance its scientific ambitions and strategic interests with respecting the sovereignty of a key ally. The NSF has stated the expedition is on hold pending permit resolution, but the damage to diplomatic relations is already unfolding.
The standoff remains unresolved, with Danish authorities maintaining their permit denial and vowing to enforce it by any means necessary. The world now watches to see if scientific curiosity will lead to an unprecedented military confrontation between two historically allied nations in the frozen high north.
