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Swede

(39,525 posts)
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 05:06 PM Jan 2025

Canada and Denmark have fought a brutal territorial war for over 50 years.

And by brutal I mean they took turns planting their flag and leaving a bottle of booze for the other guys.

It was only resolved in 2022.

They could have used a seasoned diplomat like Trump to settle this years ago.

from wiki:

The Whisky War, also known as the Liquor Wars,[1] was a bloodless war and border dispute between the Kingdom of Denmark and Canada over Hans Island. Between 1973 and 2022, the island was under dispute between the two nations, although never amounting to direct conflict or violence.

In 1984, Canadian soldiers visited the island and planted a Canadian flag, also leaving a bottle of Canadian whisky.[10] The Danish Minister of Greenland Affairs came to the island himself later the same year with the Danish flag, a bottle of Schnapps, and a letter stating "Welcome to the Danish Island" (Velkommen til den danske ø).[11][12][13] The two countries proceeded to take turns planting their flags on the island and exchanging alcoholic beverages.[14] In 2005 a Canadian man and an unknown source on the Danish side also posted advertisements on Google to "promote their claims".[14][15][16]

The minor border dispute was often considered humorous between the two nations, with diplomats displaying good humour. Despite the serious official nature of the matter, the manner in which the conflict was prosecuted was light-hearted, demonstrated by the length of time taken to settle the dispute, if nothing else. Both nations are on friendly terms, and are also founding members of NATO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Canada and Denmark have fought a brutal territorial war for over 50 years. (Original Post) Swede Jan 2025 OP
It was the Ukraine war that prompted them to solve this dsc Jan 2025 #1
. dalton99a Jan 2025 #2
I think Canada should have also received a goodly quantity of Copenhagens, BobTheSubgenius Jan 2025 #21
This is the way to wage a "war".... slightlv Jan 2025 #3
Alcohol thins the blood IronLionZion Jan 2025 #6
I just had that old theme of: slightlv Jan 2025 #8
Nobody expects a Danish distillation JoseBalow Jan 2025 #7
So very many people will not get what you did there. moniss Jan 2025 #11
Ever had one where you knew there slightlv Jan 2025 #13
And now for something moniss Jan 2025 #16
See comment no. 12.. yorkster Jan 2025 #19
ditto MadameButterfly Jan 2025 #14
Indeed IronLionZion Jan 2025 #12
Good one! OldBaldy1701E Jan 2025 #24
I remember a great story on NPR about this. Martin68 Jan 2025 #4
Well, this complicated Trump's plan to buy the place from Denmark. eggplant Jan 2025 #5
If Canada had been serious in trying to moniss Jan 2025 #9
My kind of war.... Evolve Dammit Jan 2025 #10
Trump would never understand MadameButterfly Jan 2025 #15
this is how civilized people behave Skittles Jan 2025 #17
There were casualties Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2025 #18
This reminds me of "Mooselyvania..." Archae Jan 2025 #20
Divided in half, but will once again be unified when Trump takes Greenland and Canada Polybius Jan 2025 #22
Thanks for this! Hope22 Jan 2025 #23

dsc

(53,398 posts)
1. It was the Ukraine war that prompted them to solve this
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 05:47 PM
Jan 2025

they didn't want any territorial disputes between NATO countries.

dalton99a

(94,218 posts)
2. .
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 06:18 PM
Jan 2025
Canada and Denmark signed an agreement on Tuesday that formally defined their Arctic marine boundary and settles the question of Hans Island’s ownership. The island will be split, with about 60 percent of the rock becoming Denmark and the rest becoming Canada.

The ministers said that reaching an agreement involved talks by both countries with Inuit who live on both sides of the border and who know the island as Tartupaluk. Mr. Kofod said that the agreement protects their cross-border hunting and fishing rights and also ensures that the new boundary will not hinder travel across Hans Island.

Given that Canada and Denmark are longtime allies and enjoy friendly relations, why did it take so long to reach a deal?

Part of the answer, Professor Byers said, is the slow pace of the United Nations’ processes for settling marine boundary issues that are governed by the 1982 Law of the Sea Treaty.

But he also noted that highly publicized drop offs of liquor by troops from both countries have typically preceded elections, suggesting that some governments found political value in dragging out the dispute.

“It was simply a way of stirring up a little bit of patriotic sentiment in a completely no risk context,” Professor Byers said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/world/canada/hans-island-ownership-canada-denmark.html

BobTheSubgenius

(12,217 posts)
21. I think Canada should have also received a goodly quantity of Copenhagens,
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 01:17 PM
Jan 2025

although in Denmark, they might be called Ottawas...but I doubt it. In any case, they are f'ing amazing!

slightlv

(7,790 posts)
8. I just had that old theme of:
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 07:40 PM
Jan 2025

"What if they gave a war and nobody came?" from back in the 60's and 70's going through my head this whole message (LOL). Seems like this would be one war people would show up for -- just to grab hold of the alcohol. But it's not exactly great drinking in the cold, to be sure!

moniss

(9,058 posts)
11. So very many people will not get what you did there.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 07:46 PM
Jan 2025

I think it was brilliant and made me smile.

slightlv

(7,790 posts)
13. Ever had one where you knew there
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 03:05 AM
Jan 2025

Was something written on a marble in your head but it just wouldn't roll to be readable? That's where I am... can u explain? (Sheepish gryn)

yorkster

(3,843 posts)
19. See comment no. 12..
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:33 AM
Jan 2025

Danish distillation is a play on what is being so literally shown.
Took me a bit as well.

eggplant

(4,202 posts)
5. Well, this complicated Trump's plan to buy the place from Denmark.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 07:23 PM
Jan 2025

Or maybe this is why he wants Canada to become a US state? To drop the price of Greenland by 50%?

moniss

(9,058 posts)
9. If Canada had been serious in trying to
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 07:43 PM
Jan 2025

convince the Danes as to what levels of horror the Canadians are willing to invoke they could have left a dish of poutine and a bottle of Labatt Blue.

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
18. There were casualties
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 09:45 AM
Jan 2025

A couple dozen bottles are now just empty shells of their former selves.
 

Archae

(47,245 posts)
20. This reminds me of "Mooselyvania..."
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:40 AM
Jan 2025

From "Rocky and Bullwinkle," the island that kept getting shoved back and forth because nobody wanted it.

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