Greenland army have 'duty to counterattack' without waiting for orders, amid Trump threats

As US President Donald Trump ramps up his threats against Greenland, Danish media outlets are reporting that an order allowing the nations armed forces to counterattack without waiting for orders, is still active.

The custody order from 1952 states that if attacked, forces must "engage in battle without waiting for or seeking orders" without hesitation, the nation's Ministry of Defence confirmed to Berlingske, a Danish media outlet.

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This means that in the event that the US decides to use armed aggression, the Danish military will respond in what is a 'shoot first, ask later' doctrine.

After the US President set his eyes on Greenland after his incursion into Venezuela, the VP, JD Vance, has asked Europe to take Trump's threats "seriously".

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilising the US Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief's disposal."

Only military options?

Trump has not ruled out military options but has also offered to buy out the nation by paying each citizen in cash, Reuters has reported.

Officials have reportedly discussed handing out between $10,000 and $100,000 to each person in an attempt to get them to join the United States.

Why Greenland?

Time and again, Trump and his staff have said that taking over Greenland is imperative to national security. He has also insisted that Denmark is unable to protect Greenland from Russia and China.

The mineral-rich nation is located in the Arctic and is roughly six times the size of Germany. It's location makes it ideal to monitor missile attacks through early warning systems and to keep an eye on vessels in the region.

The Arctic nation also boasts of large reserves of uranium, iron and other rare minerals. Experts believe it could have significant oil and gas reserves. These may become more accessible as climate change continues to melt ice in the largely unusable land of the nation.

However, Trump has also repeatedly said that he wants Greenland for "national security, and not minerals".

Trump 'spoils my sleep'

While some Danish citizens are taking to TikTok to make serious commentary on how this could possibly impact the nation, many others have turned the situation into a lighthearted one by making jokes.

One made a TikTok dance with the caption: "That feeling when you have something Trump wants so badly but will never have". Another was wondering if there would be "more McDonald's" and "more ads" if the US takes over.

Despite the lightheartedness on social media, citizens in Greenland have been speaking to media outlets expressing major concern. One said, "I don't want to talk about him [Trump], because he spoils my sleep," in a street interview to a local media outlet. She added that she doesn't sleep well because the United States "doesn't respect" her country.

Another citizen said that she thinks that Trump is the "archetype of greed" and that they need to "push back".

Meher Dhanjal

meher@khaleejtimes.com

Meher Dhanjal is a Digital Journalist who breaks news first and breathes second. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings.