The Danish Ministry of Defence has confirmed its protocol regarding responses to foreign troop invasions, including potential incursions into Greenland, the Danish media reported today. In such circumstances, soldiers are mandated to initiate an immediate counterattack without awaiting further orders.
This directive is in accordance with the rules governing the use of force, established in 1952. The Ministry stated that “attacked forces must engage in combat immediately, even if their commanders have not been notified that the country is in a state of war,” as reported in response to a query from the Berlingske daily.
On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that he discussed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed that a US invasion of Greenland is not being considered. This statement, however, appears to contradict remarks made by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, who indicated that military action remains a viable option concerning Greenland.
A senior European diplomat told the Washington Post that there has been a significant shift in tone on this matter in recent days. Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin cautioned that if the United States were to take military action against Greenland, it would position itself as an adversary of European NATO member states. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Villepin emphasised that Europe must reject any infringement on its sovereignty, stating that an attack by one NATO member on another would constitute an “unprecedented” situation.
