Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TomWilm

(1,896 posts)
Mon Mar 17, 2025, 11:09 PM Mar 17

60 percent of Danes now reject new US bases in Denmark

A new poll show that the relationship between Denmark and the United States is currently at a low point. 42 percent of Danes say NO, while only 30 percent believe the agreement should be accepted, according to this poll made by prominent conservative news papers

The government's proposal for new US bases will be dealt with in the Parliament in April, but if it was up to the population of the country, the agreement should not be signed.

Two researchers who specialize in the US -Denmark relationship point out that the results are a clear picture that that relationship has changed lately:

"It is interesting that there is no majority in the Danish population to ratify this agreement with the United States. There is a feeling in the Danish population that you cannot count on the Americans anymore,” says Mikkel Runge Olesen, senior researcher in foreign policy and diplomacy at the governmental think tank DIIS.

[Translated from the Danish news paper BT]


The fact that a majority in the population is against new US bases might not affect the decision of the Danish government. Several smaller political parties have asked that the decision should be postponed, but it will probably still be forced through by a social-democratic and liberal coalition.

Realistically there is no way the Danes can keep the US from entering Denmark and using it as a military platform. After Wold War II the Danes asked the US to get out of Greenland again, but had to accept the occupation anyway, which included nuclear arms and enormous construction projects.

The proposed new US bases are planned to be in the Southern Denmark, and changes nothing for the much more important existing US base in Greenland.
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
60 percent of Danes now reject new US bases in Denmark (Original Post) TomWilm Mar 17 OP
Is this saying that if Denmark asks us to leave their country, we don't have to leave? Deuxcents Mar 18 #1
If we ask to NOT get an US base, we will get it anyway! TomWilm Mar 18 #2

Deuxcents

(21,570 posts)
1. Is this saying that if Denmark asks us to leave their country, we don't have to leave?
Tue Mar 18, 2025, 12:32 AM
Mar 18

Is there an agreement or does it have something to do with NATO? Don’t know if I’m reading this correctly

TomWilm

(1,896 posts)
2. If we ask to NOT get an US base, we will get it anyway!
Tue Mar 18, 2025, 04:47 AM
Mar 18

On this Denmark has the same rights as Cuba. We both asked the US military to go away, and they kept their base anyway. Cuba is still protesting the occupation - but Denmark accepted its fate and entered in 1951 into an agreement so that we could have some influence on the case.

Later on the Greenland base became more accepted by the Danes, and became a kind of a "payment" for our incorporation into NATO. Today many people in Greenland want it gone - but do you believe the US would leave it, if asked?

Same with the new base agreement, which has been signed by our government in 2023, but not yet made into law. It was made before Tr*mp, and nobody knows what he will do with it yet ...

The US now has arms laying in stock on Danish soil, where Danish soldier is helping them to pack it for delivery world wide - and for example has "exported" this from Denmark to the Israeli forces, to be used in Gaza!

Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»60 percent of Danes now r...