Denmark Moves Forward with U.S. Defense Agreement Amid Greenland Tensions

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's parliament has taken a significant step toward ratifying a defense cooperation deal with the United States, even as diplomatic tensions persist over Greenland. The deal, which expands U.S. military rights within Denmark, has been a topic of intense public debate and opposition among the Danish populace.

On Friday, Danish lawmakers conducted the first of three readings of the bill that would permit the U.S. military to station troops and store equipment on Danish territory for a ten-year period. The final vote on the agreement is expected to take place by the end of June.

Despite a survey indicating substantial opposition among Danes to the U.S. presence, Danish officials consider the defense deal vital for national security, particularly in light of heightened concerns regarding Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

Relations between Denmark and the U.S. have been strained since former President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. should acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, citing security reasons. Both the Danish government and the Greenland administration have firmly rejected this idea, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining sovereignty over the resource-rich island.

The current Danish government, which signed the bilateral cooperation agreement in 2023 during President Joe Biden's administration, argues that strengthening defense alliances is imperative at this critical juncture. Simon Kollerup, a member of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democratic party, defended the necessity of the agreement, stating that dismissing it would be unwise given the geopolitical landscape.

"We have built the defense of Europe on our NATO membership," Frederiksen reiterated in a recent address, highlighting the importance of solidarity within the alliance.

While the agreement has garnered support from several opposition parties, left-wing factions, including the Alternative and Red-Green Alliance, have voiced their opposition. Nonetheless, the deal is anticipated to progress through parliament despite these dissenting voices.

It is noteworthy that the agreement specifically excludes Greenland, where the U.S. maintains access under a defense pact established in the 1950s, as well as the Faroe Islands, another Danish territory in the North Atlantic. Other Nordic countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Norway, have also entered into similar defense pacts with the United States in recent years, reflecting a broader trend of strengthening military partnerships in the region.

As Denmark continues to deliberate on this important agreement, its implications for national security and international relations will be closely monitored in the coming months.