A possible war with NATO is escalating after Denmark made it clear to military leaders that if the United States fires on its forces, Danish defenders must fight back.
The comments come after Stephen Miller, a top aide to President Donald Trump, told CNN that there were only 30,000 residents of Greenland, leading him to conclude that no one would fight back against the United States if it took over the Arctic island.
“Danish military units have a duty to defend Danish territory if it is subjected to an armed attack, including by taking immediate defensive action if required,” Danish Defense Command spokesperson Tobias Roed Jensen, said when speaking to The Intercept.
The 1952 royal decree applies to the Kingdom of Denmark, of which Greenland is still a part.
Such an order ensures that “Danish forces can act to defend the Danish kingdom in situations where Danish territory or Danish military units are attacked, even if circumstances make it impossible to await further political or military instruction,” Jensen added.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed the news on X, saying that Swedish Armed Forces officers were also joining the Danish military.
"Together, they will prepare for upcoming elements within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance. It is at Denmark's request that Sweden is sending personnel from the Armed Forces," he said, according to a translation on X.
Thus far, Denmark’s willingness to stand up to the U.S. has not deterred orders from the Trump administration.
“One way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland,” Trump announced on Sunday.
Trump has also claimed that Russian and Chinese “destroyers and submarines” are “all over the place” in Greenland. He has argued that if the U.S. does not take Greenland, they will. Trump maintains that owning the island is the only way to protect it, even though, as part of NATO, the United States is already obligated to defend it.
Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) backed him up on it by introducing legislation authorizing the use of force to annex Greenland, even if that meant leaving NATO and starting a war with Europe.
Trump’s critics responded with their own legislation, the No Funds for NATO Invasion Act, which would bar any federal dollars from being used to invade a NATO member state. Congress’s remaining leverage over Trump is its control of the budget.
Trump mocked, “Their defense is two dog sleds."
Though that isn't entirely accurate. Despite the small size of the Greenland military, Denmark and NATO could be sent to protect the island from the U.S.
Reporter Benjamin Alvarez, U.S. Correspondent for Deutsche Welle, confirmed that the soldiers were sent quickly.
Sweden's "Expressen" reported that the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland on Wednesday, a Google translation of the article said.
Oddly, the State Department approved "a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Denmark of maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft worth an estimated $1.8 billion," said The Intercept.
The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland are meeting Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.