The Danish Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that a standing military order from 1952 remains in force, mandating that its forces "shoot first and ask questions later

 

The Danish Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that a standing military order from 1952 remains in force, mandating that its forces "shoot first and ask questions later

" if any foreign power, specifically the United States, attempts to invade Greenland. This confirmation follows repeated statements from the U.S. administration describing the acquisition of the Arctic territory as an "absolute necessity" for American national security.

The 1952 decree was originally designed to prevent a repeat of the 1940 invasion of Denmark by Nazi Germany, requiring military units to enter combat immediately without waiting for formal orders from their commanders. Experts warn that an actual military move on Greenland could effectively end the NATO alliance and dismantle the international security framework established after World War II.

While U.S. officials have attempted to reassure allies that there are no current plans for a physical incursion, the rhetoric has already caused the Danish defense intelligence service to label the U.S. as a concern to national security. In response, Denmark has significantly increased its Arctic defense spending, committing billions of kroner to bolster its physical presence in the region.

The diplomatic fallout has triggered emergency discussions across Europe, with leaders from Germany, France, and Italy issuing joint statements supporting Denmark's territorial integrity. Despite these tensions, the U.S. continues to cite the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the area as a primary reason for needing greater control over the island.

Current protocols dictate that Denmark’s Arctic Command would be the authority to assess whether an approach constitutes an attack, triggering a full mobilization of the Armed Forces and Home Guard. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments have remained firm, repeatedly stating that the island is "not for sale" and that its future is up to its inhabitants.

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