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Soldiers must engage without awaiting orders if anyone were to invade Danish territory, including US troops attempting to seize Greenland, according to a 1952 military directive that Denmark’s Defence Ministry has confirmed remains in force.
The standing order requires Danish military personnel to “immediately take up the fight” against any attack on Danish territory without waiting for commands, even if commanders are unaware of a declaration of war, the Defence Command and Ministry told Danish newspaper Berlingske.
The directive has gained attention after US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of Greenland by force if necessary, describing the Arctic territory as vital to American national security.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said this week that a military attempt at taking Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, would mark the end of NATO.
“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday.
“That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of World War II.”
The 1952 order states that attacking forces must respond without hesitation or seek authorisation. The Defence Ministry confirmed to Berlingske that the directive “remains in force,” Danish and Greenlandic outlets reported.
The Arctic Command, Denmark’s military authority in Greenland, would assess whether any situation constitutes an attack, according to procedures in place.
The directive was created following Nazi Germany’s attack on Denmark in April 1940, when communications partially collapsed and many military units did not know how to respond, according to Denmark’s National Encyclopedia.
The order ensures military forces engage in combat upon attack without requiring specific commands.
Both Denmark and Greenland’s governments reject Trump’s proposals to purchase or seize the island.
Top-level meeting in the works
Meanwhile, Denmark has welcomed a meeting with the US next week to discuss Trump’s renewed push for Greenland to come under US control.
“This is the dialogue that is needed, as requested by the government together with the Greenlandic government,” Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR on Thursday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said on Wednesday that a meeting about Greenland would happen next week, without giving details about timing, location or participants.
“I’m not here to talk about Denmark or military intervention. I’ll be meeting with them next week, we’ll have those conversations with them then,” Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Greenland’s government has told Danish public broadcaster DR that Greenland will participate in the meeting between Denmark and the US announced by Rubio.
“Nothing about Greenland without Greenland. Of course we will be there. We are the ones who requested the meeting,” Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt told DR.
The island of Greenland, 80% of which lies north of the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 people, mostly Inuit.
Additional sources • AP