Brussels – With 94 votes in favor and only 11 against, the Danish parliament last night (June 11) passed a new defense agreement granting the United States extended access to military bases in three Danish cities: Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg. The deal allows the US military to operate from these sites, store military equipment, conduct maintenance, exercises, and station personnel. The US forces will also have autonomous legal jurisdiction over their own military, relieving them from compliance with Danish law in the first degree.
The agreement, signed in December 2023 under Joe Biden‘s administration but finalized after Donald Trump returned to the White House, has drawn criticism from a section of the public and some political forces, particularly for fears of losing sovereignty and potential conflict with Danish constitutional principles. Among the votes against were those of the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), the environmentalists of Alternativet, and the independent MEP Theresa Scavenius, who spoke of a “lack of public oversight” and an overly opaque decision-making process. According to the leader of Enhedslisten, Pelle Dragsted, the agreement marks “a failure to the Danish people.” It risks creating “zones under American jurisdiction, outside the control of the Danish authorities, where abuses could occur.” The Danish Institute for Human Rights expressed fears that American soldiers, also acting outside the bases, could intervene in demonstrations or civilian activities without being prosecuted under local law.
The Danish government rejected the accusations, emphasizing that the primary responsibility for security will remain with the national authorities. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stated that Danish control “remains firm” even in areas affected by the arrangement. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended the choice as necessary in the current context: “The problem is not an excessive American presence in Europe, but the risk of the United States disengaging or stopping donations to Ukraine.”
The agreement’s ratification comes at a sensitive moment in bilateral relations between Copenhagen and Washington. President Trump’s recent statements about his wish to “get” Greenland “one way or the other” have rekindled tensions that have never subsided. According to the Wall Street Journal, US intelligence has reportedly been instructed to monitor Greenland’s independence movements and gauge local sentiment on resource extraction, generating a harsh diplomatic response from Frederiksen: “You don’t spy on an ally,” he declared.
Further complicating the picture are the statements of US Vice-President JD Vance, who, during a visit to the US space base in Pituffik on March 26, called on Greenland to “cut ties with Denmark” to align with Washington. This scenario makes it even more strategic for the Danish government to keep the channel open with the United States. Despite the concerns expressed by various political and academic voices, Copenhagen thus sees the agreement as a means to manage an increasingly complex relationship with NATO’s main military ally in a more stable manner.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
