According to DR, a report revealed that approximately 100 Danish soldiers are currently serving at or near US military bases or installations worldwide. These soldiers are either assigned to specific missions or stationed for extended periods at these facilities. The Danish Ministry of Defence confirmed this figure in a statement to DR.
The situation of Danish soldiers stationed at these bases has become more sensitive following statements from the United States that did not rule out the use of armed force regarding Greenland, raising concerns among the deployed troops. Niels Tønning, head of the officers' main organization, Hovedorganisationen af Officerer (Officers' Main Organization), explained that the Ministry of Defence bears a significant responsibility to provide soldiers with information to ensure their safety while on duty far from home. Tønning told DR, "The uncertainty these soldiers are experiencing must be addressed by the Ministry of Defence through enhanced communication and keeping them informed. This is the employer's responsibility."“
Multitasking among Danish soldiers
Danish soldiers stationed at US bases perform a wide range of tasks. Some work at headquarters and military bodies as liaison officers or administrative staff, while others participate in training programs, such as the Danish battalion at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Danish F-35 pilots train to fly F-35 fighter jets, according to the report.
According to Professor Peter Jakobsen of the Danish Defence Academy, the presence of approximately 100 Danish soldiers at US military installations makes sense, given that the United States is Denmark's most important ally. Jakobsen noted that political threats, such as Trump's statements, would not necessarily affect the deployed troops, pointing out that most of their American counterparts remain silent regarding their political stances. However, he cautioned that in the event of an escalation, the Danish soldiers could be perceived as potential spies and might be ordered to return or cease their duties, adding, "They can't shoot at us," according to DR.
The risk of becoming prisoners of war
Captain Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl, a naval officer and military law expert at the University of Southern Denmark, also emphasized that the situation could become dangerous if the United States used force against Denmark. He stated, “In the worst-case scenario, if the United States uses armed force against the Kingdom of Denmark, the deployed soldiers would effectively become prisoners of war and could be arrested.” He added that Danish authorities must be prepared to make the decision to repatriate the troops, stressing that this would be a crucial but necessary step if the crisis escalated to a declaration of war, as he told DR.
Avoiding escalation is a strategic imperative.
Peter Jakobsen also believes that Denmark will not take an escalatory step, explaining that the country will seek to maintain cooperation with the United States and not hold it responsible for the escalation, as he told the source: “We will not push the Americans away from our military cooperation, as we do not want to give them an opportunity to blame us for any possible escalation.”
The possibility of confining the conflict to Greenland
Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl explained that the conflict could be geographically confined to Greenland without escalating into a full-scale war, citing the example of the war between Argentina and England over the Falkland Islands, where military action was limited to the disputed area without severing diplomatic relations or arresting civilians.
The Danish Ministry of Defense has not commented on any internal instructions that may be given to Danish soldiers at US bases, according to the source.
