Danish veterans protest US Embassy over Greenland, Trump rhetoric
In a poignant display of solidarity, Danish veterans gathered outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen to silently protest perceived US aggression towards Greenland. With emotions running high, they voiced their frustration over how their significant contributions in battle seem to be overshadowed.
Hundreds of Danish veterans staged a silent protest Saturday outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen. They were responding to threats by the Trump administration to take over Greenland and its perceived belittling of their combat contributions. The veterans expressed feeling let down and ridiculed by the administration's actions.
The veterans first gathered at a monument honoring fallen Danish service members. They then marched to the nearby US Embassy. There, they observed five minutes of silence. This silence represented Denmark's army, air force, navy, emergency management agency, and police.
Danish Veterans & Veteran Support issued a statement detailing their grievances. “Denmark has always stood side by side with the USA and we have showed up in the world's crisis zones when the USA has asked us to. We feel let down and ridiculed by the Trump Administration, which is deliberately disregarding Denmark's combat side by side with the USA,” the statement read.
The organization further expressed the depth of their hurt. “Words cannot describe how much it hurts us that Denmark's contributions and sacrifices in the fight for democracy, peace and freedom are being forgotten in the White House,” it said.
Danish veterans are particularly angered by the White House rhetoric. This rhetoric disregards the right to self-determination of Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark. They also strongly object to claims that Denmark is incapable of protecting the West's security interests in the Arctic.
Denmark has a significant history of combat alongside US forces. Forty-four Danish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, representing the highest per capita death toll among coalition forces. An additional eight Danish soldiers died in Iraq.
Tensions were further heightened earlier in the week. Forty-four Danish flags, one for each Danish soldier killed in Afghanistan, were placed in front of the embassy. Embassy staff subsequently removed these flags. The State Department later provided an explanation for the flag removal.
“As a general rule, guard staff remove items left behind following demonstrations and other ‘legitimate exercises of free speech.' The flags were returned to those who left them,” the State Department said.