Denmark has officially confirmed that its armed forces retain the authority to open fire immediately if any foreign power attempts to invade its territory, including Greenland. This directive, a relic of the Cold War, has gained fresh relevance following renewed statements from the United States about its strategic interest in the autonomous Danish territory.
The 'Shoot First' Directive: A Cold War Relic
The Danish Defence Ministry clarified to the newspaper Berlingske that a standing order from 1952 remains fully in effect. This rule explicitly permits Danish troops to act instantly in defence of the realm without needing to wait for instructions from senior commanders during an attack.
The policy's origins trace back to the traumatic Nazi invasion of Denmark in April 1940. During that assault, the country's communication systems collapsed, leaving military units paralysed and unable to receive orders. To prevent a repeat of such a scenario, the "shoot first" instruction was instituted and has never been revoked.
In the context of Greenland, the responsibility for determining whether a situation qualifies as an attack requiring a military response falls to Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command. This body oversees all defence operations on the vast island and would assess any hostile movements.
Trump's Persistent Ambitions for Greenland
Denmark's reaffirmation of its defence posture comes directly after US President Donald Trump again suggested that the United States could take control of Greenland. The 79-year-old President has consistently argued that the territory is vital for American national security, citing increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic region.
"I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can't do with, you're talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can't get from just signing a document," Trump told the New York Times.
While the US is already part of a 1951 agreement granting it extensive rights to establish military bases in Greenland, any expansion requires approval from both Denmark and Greenland's local government. Leaders in Copenhagen and Nuuk have repeatedly and firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale.
Severe Consequences for NATO Alliance
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning this week, indicating that any US military move against Greenland would have devastating global repercussions. "If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," she told Danish broadcaster TV2.
Her strong remarks suggest that such an action by a NATO member against another could effectively destroy the alliance itself, highlighting the severe diplomatic and strategic crisis that would ensue. This situation places the long-standing transatlantic partnership under unprecedented strain, centred on the remote, ice-covered territory of Greenland.
