Copenhagen

Danish Conservative Party MP Rasmus Jarlov on Saturday said it was deeply alarming and unacceptable for Denmark to face threats of military force, stating that such remarks were unprecedented between allied nations.

Reacting to comments made by former US President Donald Trump, Jarlov said that Denmark has no external military threat apart from the United States itself. He described the situation as shocking, noting that Denmark has remained a loyal ally and has taken no hostile action.

“It is deeply troubling and unacceptable that Denmark is being threatened with military force by the United States. This is unprecedented and alarming for all allied nations. If a country like Denmark can be targeted despite its loyalty, it raises serious concerns about global security,” Jarlov said.

Referring specifically to Greenland, he rejected claims of any foreign threat to the island, asserting that China poses no risk whatsoever. “There is absolutely no threat to Greenland. The idea that China is endangering Greenland is entirely false. China has no consulate, no mining activity, no ownership and no military presence there,” he said.

Jarlov added that even if such concerns were valid, the United States already has extensive military access to Greenland. He pointed out that American troop presence on the island has been drastically reduced over the years, from around 15,000 personnel to approximately 150.

Under a Cold War-era agreement signed in 1951 between Denmark and the United States, Washington has broad military rights in Greenland, including the ability to establish and operate bases, deploy personnel and control military movements. The agreement remains in force despite Greenland’s evolving political status.

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Although Denmark continues to oversee certain aspects of Greenland’s governance, the island’s residents retain the right to decide their future through a referendum. According to a poll conducted last year, a significant majority—around 85 per cent—of Greenland’s population opposed the idea of an American takeover.