Denmark 'will shoot first and ask questions later' over Greenland

[riversedge]

Source: yahoo.com


James Rothwell Wed, January 7, 2026 at 7:43 AM CST


.....................

On Wednesday, the Danish defence ministry confirmed the existence of a 1952 rule requiring soldiers to “immediately” counter-attack invading forces without awaiting orders.

The defence ministry also said that the rule “remains in force” when asked about its status by Berlingske, a centre-Right Danish newspaper.


According to the Danish newspaper Berlingske, the 1952 rule states that in the event of an invasion, “the attacked forces must immediately take up the fight without waiting for or seeking orders, even if the commanders in question are not aware of the declaration of war or state of war”.

When approached for comment, the Danish defence ministry told the newspaper: “The order on precautionary measures for military defence in the event of attacks on the country and during war, remains in force.”.............







Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/denmark-shoot-first-ask-questions-134356984.html

---

Fair warning

Danish soldiers will be required to shoot first and ask questions later if the United States invades Greenland, under the army’s rules of engagement.

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T22:35:37.738Z

Danish military forces participate in an exercise with hundreds of troops from several European Nato members in the Arctic Ocean in Nuuk, Greenland - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

[RockRaven]

1. As they should...

Goose, gander, etc.

[creon]

6. I agree

No "Halt who goes there?"

[raccoon]

37. Yeah, Trump and his minions do whatever the fuck they want.

[SSJVegeta]

2. This should pull the EU into war with the US

Yay

[DBoon]

4. Trump's invasion of Greenland is a war against the EU

EU members can either response with force or do what France and Britain did when Hitler invaded Poland - which is nothin that mattered

[SSJVegeta]

5. Yup

Hope the EU is smarter.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

20. Actually, the EU is not a military alliance like NATO, but 23 of the 27 members are also NATO members.

Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta have historically maintained policies of military neutrality or non-alignment and are not members of the NATO alliance.

But, Canada, Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Turkey, and the United Kingdom are all non-EU NATO members.

The reality--which is worse in my opinion--is that we will be at war with NATO--our own allies.

Many of these members make their own military equipment, but they are all familiar with ours.

The country that could not bring Afghanistan to heel should have learned a lesson from Russia's invasion of Ukraine: you are not as big as you think you are.

Fighting 26 other countries aligned against the U.S. would be a disaster that would kill generations of America's youth and destroy trillions of dollars of America's wealth.

[SSJVegeta]

22. Incorrect.

https://guides.law.columbia.edu/c.php?g=1221803&p=9087251

Hopefully the advisors to the President also know this, but I kinda doubt it.

The Constitution for the European Union and the Treaty of Lisbon
Between February 2002 and July 2003, the Convention on the Future of Europe took place with the intent of developing a draft constitution for the EU. The Draft Constitution was completed and presented to the President of the EU by the President of the Convention on July 18, 2003. The final version of the proposed constitution, called the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, was signed by the heads of state on October 29, 2004. It was submitted to the member states for ratification. Although it has been ratified by fifteen countries, the Treaty was defeated in France and the Netherlands in June 2005. Following those defeats, the European Council decided to review the constitution and the ratification process in early 2006. In their June 2006 meeting, the European Council extended the period of review and reflection for another two years.

After this period of review, the Treaty of Lisbon was signed on December 13, 2007 and entered into force on December 1, 2009. The Treaty of Lisbon replaces the Constitution.

All members of the EU are also part of the Lisbon treaty, which is a mutual defense treaty.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

25. The Treaty of Lisbon has a neutrality clause:

The clause allows for the neutrality of certain EU countries (like Austria, Ireland) and doesn't force them into a binding military alliance, focusing on aid rather than direct military intervention.

But yes, they do have a quite sophisticated alliance and command structure, though it lacks a single, permanent, large-scale structure like NATO's. I doubt that the MILEX really trains for battling the U.S.

I just don't think a battle with the U.S. has ever even really been considered by the EU.

I hope we do not ever have to find out how organized they are to take on the U.S.

I still think the NATO alliance is the thing we really need to worry about.

[SSJVegeta]

29. I think that the EU will prove far more powerful than NATO

It has more members and can draw from a vastly more diverse population and resources. It already has a competitive economy overall yo the US and has the potential to develop a military industrial base outpacing any other state or alliance.

The only drawback is what you mention, which is their resolve to do such a thing. I think based on Denmarks words today, we likely cannot rule out the EU being more forcefully than NATO in the long run.

(Im basing my above comments on the assumption that any war with the EU or NATo would obviously mean the US is no longer a part of NATO)

[Ol Janx Spirit]

31. Valid points, but the EU would still be slightly smaller than NATO without the U.S. from a...

...member country standpoint: 27 vs. 31. 23 would still be members of both.

NATO would have one big advantage over the EU which is a country that borders the U.S. in Canada as a base of operations.

But, given the large overlap between NATO and the EU it is probably about six in one and a half-dozen the other....

Interesting aside is that Melania's home country would be aligned against us.

The big wildcard would be what China, Russia, and India decided to do.

[SSJVegeta]

32. This is such a wild scenario and I kinda makes me angry how there is even

An ounce of plausibility to it.

That being said, I would imagine that most EU nations would have more loyalty to the EU over NATO. I don’t even think Canada would go against the EU even though it isn’t in the EU, but definitely could increase its ties to it now that the US has threatened invasion.

Honestly I’m starting to think NATO is a dying breed to be replaced by the EU shortly.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

33. My thoughts exactly. This is absolute insanity, but here we are. It seems far too plausible.

And I agree with you on the EU vs. NATO part. The EU would seem to have more of a common cause against the U.S.; while NATO has really been fashioned more to support the U.S. if things hit the fan internationally. I doubt NATO has ever even thought about what would happen if the U.S. was the thing that hit the fan....

And yes, at this point we have alienated Canada in so many ways I can't see them being truly on our side in a conflict.

And again...OMFG that any of this should even have to be considered!

[SSJVegeta]

45. Hopefully things get better.

I have a fantasy about a large swath of the globe entering the EU (in which Case it might need to be renamed). It's lack of federalization gives the possibility for endless rapid growth, although sustainability with that growth could be challenging as it becomes more diverse.

Nonetheless perhaps the major issues we are encountering today could be grounds for the possibility of my fantasy taking shape in the future.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

46. Hopefully. It feels unlikely so long as the Monstrosity-in-chief sits in the Oval, but we can still hope.

I bet there are some serious internal conversations going on among the EU members--especially France and Germany--about what is coming for the rest of the world now that the U.S. has turned into an unreliable partner.

As a result of Emperor Tangerine's lack of support for Ukraine, they were already working more closely together. As a result of his actions in the Caribbean and Pacific they were backing off of intelligence sharing. The action in Venezuela has most certainly gotten them talking about a world where the U.S. is not an ally anymore--but an enemy. They would be remis not to do so.

So, certainly expansion must be on the table in order to shore up greater economic and military force to defend against such a foe.

And the current leaders of the U.S. should never underestimate the EU as a world power. But we have a much better track record of underestimating our foes than overestimating them, so....

[SSJVegeta]

47. Oh man... and if right wing propaganda is any indication

Underestimating the EU seems to be one of the stronger inclinations among much of the population and current leadership.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

49. They've hated Europe since before the "freedom fries" days.

But you really do have to wonder what their basis is for thinking any of these conflicts will be easy. Sure, we have a great track record of dominating the first week of a conflict, but after that we really aren't so good. It is very hard work to maintain an occupation--almost impossible with a small all-volunteer military force.

And it's not just us. Ask the Romans why they had to build a wall across Britannia? Heck, ask Russia why Ukraine didn't fall in a weekend?

And I used to think we all understood this fact, but it turns out not to be the case apparently.

Those who do not study history....

[SSJVegeta]

53. Agreed. And most of those conflicts are entirely asymmetrical

What happens when the US is actually up against an equally capable enemy?

[Ol Janx Spirit]

54. MAD...I'm afraid....

For some reason I've thought about the film, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" a lot lately.

I really miss feeling like we were the better of all the bad guys on the world stage....

[thought crime]

48. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

Has been advocating for a stronger political union and a common military for Europe. This is increasingly possible, simply because English has become a common working language, but many barriers remain. Unfortunately, it may be necessary to take these steps in order to maintain a credible deterrence against Russia and now the US.

[rampartd]

43. a satiation that now exists.

there is little doubt that putin nor his allies will stop with ukraine. the europeans need to be ready to fight on 2 fronts.

[TomWilm]

3. Though this order might effectively no longer having legal effect today.

A recent analysis concludes that there seems to be a general need for a legal revision of the regulatory framework on the defense of Denmark. Some existing orders is said to effectively having no longer legal effect today.

Even though the Danish defence ministry claims: “The order on precautionary measures for military defence in the event of attacks on the country and during war, remains in force“ - there are a lot of doubt about this, and it will be discussed in the Danish parliament this month.

[ananda]

7. When you're dealing with Nazis and Hitler wannabes...

it's a good rule.

Period

[TomWilm]

39. So... on this point Tr*mp is right, that laws is useless?

The main fight now is exactly NOT about who shoots first, but about preserving some kind of common understanding on upholding the principles of international law based on the foundational UN Charter.

These are in no way perfect, but better than a world solely governed by military or economic strength. Which is why the US is trying to take back the power of war from the President to the Congress, and why it is necessary also for Denmark to have a framework for war based on democracy.

[ananda]

44. This is a law based on delays in fighting against Nazi Germany.

Trump is a Hitler wannabe, and Miller is his Goebbels.

That's why it's a good law. No delays.

[TomWilm]

50. ... then it is up to you and what is left to fight him back home ...

... in peaceful and democratic ways. If you willingly want to play the same game as him, using military force in totalitarian and undemocratic ways, then you will win a society based on that.

[ananda]

51. One thing I've learned the hard way...

you can't play nice with bullies.

[TomWilm]

55. Then you really need to learn that ...

... or you will just play their game and embolden them. That YOU cannot play nice with bullies, does not mean it is an impossible task!

[ananda]

56. Ok, you try it and see what happens.

Go up to an Ice agent or a Republican politician
or a rightwing billionaire and see what happens.

[TomWilm]

60. I did such stuff, and still do ...

Please don't impose your inabilities and insecurity on me and others. Work for a change!

[EllieBC]

58. I'm not sure how taking the high and legal road

has helped us yet.

[paleotn]

9. Discussion in Parliament and actual tactics on the ground...

are two different things.

Shoot the fuckers. All of them.

[paleotn]

8. That was initially meant to deter Russian aggression.

Now WE'RE the bad guys.

[Clouds Passing]

10. Yes, we are now the russian-asset aggressors.

[tblue37]

12. "Are we the baddies?" video clip:

[flashman13]

11. Just so everyone understands, the Danes fiercely resisted the Nazis from the very beginning of the occupation.

They are descendants of the Norsemen and are not to be trifled with.

[Cha]

17. Thank You for the reminder.. We're Counting

on That.

[TomWilm]

61. Yes. Our ancestors are famous for their mostly nonviolent resistance ...

... during the German occupation. This is now actually part of what is taught in the Baltic by the Lithuanian Defense Ministry as a strategy for citizens' preparation for civil resistance to increase their resilience to external threats and ensure that they are properly prepared in the event of a military conflict.

[progree]

13. The source is The Telegraph. Yahoo.com is simply the news aggregator website hosting the article

Yahoo.com hosts a wide and diverse array of articles, including some from Fox News.

It is The Telegraph's reporters and editors that produced this article.

[markodochartaigh]

14. I'm just surprised that

Trump hasn't had the Navy Seals kidnap the Little Mermaid from Copenhagen.

[littlemissmartypants]

30. Comic relief...

Rears its ugly head. 😉

[Torchlight]

15. Western Europe learned ninety years ago appeasement is a bad idea.

They've clearly taken the lesson to heart.

[Cha]

16. I love Denmark, Greenland, Canada, and

Mexico!

TY, rivers!

[oasis]

18. Who'll be the 1st American soldier to die in the

invasion of Greenland? Will Pete Hegseth be the one writing those letters to Gold Star moms?

[RockRaven]

23. Some "sucker" or "loser" whose name The Dotard will mispronounce as he reads it for

the first time on air, and then immediately forgets.

[Ford_Prefect]

19. The smart move would be to station British, French, and Dutch forces in Greenland.

Navy patrols, Air Forces, and anti-ship/aircraft batteries operated in Greenland by those allies would go a long way to foiling President Miller's evil plans.

[NotHardly]

21. GONE ON THEM

[TomSlick]

24. I assume that such an order is unnecessary.

I foreign forces land in the US, I expect US commanders to respond in force without waiting for orders.

[bucolic_frolic]

26. They understand defending their own country

But are they a match for the US military? Maybe in a few years?

[Aussie105]

35. Neither were the Viet Kong.

How did that one turn out?

Elderly South Vietnamese locals still talk proudly of how they drove out the invaders. (Invaders being American troops.)

[moniss]

27. Completely justified. nt

[The Blue Flower]

28. They learned in WW2 what it is to stand and fight

The neutral Swiss require every family to own a weapon to be used at a moment's notice. I don't want our troops harmed in any way, but I'm glad they're preparing.

[Aussie105]

34. Trump is bigly worried.

The Greenland thing is meant to be a distraction from the Venezuela debacle.

The Venezuela debacle was meant to be a distraction from the Epstein mess.

The 'pull it down and build a ballroom' was also meant to be a distraction from the Epstein mess.

The Epstein mess was meant to be a distraction from some previous mess.
(Seriously, I lose track after that. ICE, Insurrection? Election voting fraud? Economic mismanagement? Broken promises?)

He may well be going for the Big One!
He has a couple of plans in mind, or an idea of a shadow of a plan slowly forming.

Recession, WW3, opening the briefcase with the nuclear codes?

[Initech]

36. What a mess Shit For Brains got us into.

Happy MAGAs? Fuck you. And fuck your stupid president.

[Skittles]

59. I will NEVER forgive those fucking pieces of utter SHIT Trump voters

NEVER

[Aussie105]

38. I'm a bit worried about myself.

I used to be a real gung-ho US supporter from a distance.

The land of unlimited opportunity, land of the brave and the free, welcoming the huddled masses yearning to be free, the brash John Wayne swagger, the individualism, etc.

Now I'm not so sure.

Do I need therapy?

[Paladin]

40. Good for Denmark.

The threat of armed retaliation is the only thing that trump and his goons might pay attention to, at this point. Cudos to Denmark, for recognizing that 1939 Nazi Germany is happening, all over again. Remembering my relatives who fought in WWII Europe for world freedom makes me want to puke, given the present-day situation.

[Ruby the Liberal]

41. Protecting themselves ... from us

Anyone come across a GoFundMe for some enterprising individuals to Caracas the District and haul the Department of War Crimes Secretary and his mentally incapacitated leader to The Hague?

[samnsara]

42. lets hope the admin is the first off the boat

[OC375]

52. Echos of The Berlin Conference

This is Trump and Putin attempting to divide things up for the next 100+ years. Trump wants the US out of Europe, and Putin wants into Europe without the US there. Trump's done his best to kneecap NATO, keep Ukraine out of NATO, and hand Ukraine to Putin, but Putin still can't pull it off.

In exchange Trump gets Greenland and Canada down to the bottom of South America to do whatever with. Venezuela and Greenland are absolutely assets that the US would want to know they can absolutely count on to control in the upcoming geopolitics of scarcity and climate change, and inevitable resource wars to come.

My guess is China is ultimately squeezed out of S.A. and C.A. and can have Taiwan and the rest of Asia, as far as Trump is concerned. I think Japan is in for a shock if they think we will protect them from China or N.K. At the end of the day... Trump doesn't play well in Asia, and the Aussies don't seem to want Trump near them either, so no "In" to Asia for him... So Trump will write Asia off "Fox and the Grapes" style, say "I didn't want it anyway", focus on what's near us, and screw the rest.

And that's the future, as speculated by me...

?si=jXos6ZN7PS7-_Tuo

[Skittles]

57. and the STAND YOUR GROUND repukes won't like that

NOPE