Arya News - A majority of Danes consider the United States an adversary after Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland, a poll shows.
A majority of Danes consider the United States an adversary after Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland , a poll shows.
Asked if they would describe Washington “as an ally or an adversary,” 60 per cent of respondents to the poll by analyst firm Epinion said it was an “adversary”. By contrast, only 17 per cent said they considered the US an ally.
Denmark has traditionally been a strong US and Nato ally, having sent troops to Afghanistan to support American-led operations in the country.
But the relationship has frayed in recent months after the US president’s repeated threats to take over the autonomous Danish territory through military force.
Denmark has rejected any suggestion of handing parts of Greenland over to the US - MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/AFP
Two weeks ago, he announced a “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” at the World Economic Forum, which is believed to involve the US being allowed to build military bases on the island .
Some 20 per cent of respondents answered that they didn’t know whether the US was an ally, while 3 per cent said they did not wish to answer.
The poll surveyed 1,053 Danes over the age of 18 between Jan 21 and 28.
The US president announced a ‘framework of a future deal’ believed to involve the US being allowed to build military bases on the island - Jim Watson/Pool
Mr Trump eventually backed down from his threats to seize the Arctic territory after pressure from European allies and Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte.
But his repeated threats to annex the territory plunged transatlantic relations to their lowest level in years.
On Jan 17, thousands of Danes joined a protest march from central Copenhagen to the US embassy to protest against the push to seize Greenland.
On Saturday, thousands marched on the US embassy in Copenhagen once again.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Greenland and Denmark to protest on Jan 17 - Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images
The latter was a silent protest organised by Denmark’s Veterans’ Association after Mr Trump downplayed the role of European Nato troops during the Afghanistan war.
The US president claimed that Nato allies “ stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines ” while fighting as part of the US campaign against the Taliban. He also raised doubt about whether Nato would ever defend the US.
The only time Nato has ever invoked Article 5, its mutual defence clause, came after the Sept 11 terror attacks.
More than a thousand non-American service members were killed in the conflict, including 457 British service personnel.
Mr Trump’s words drew condemnation from international allies, including Sir Keir Starmer , the Prime Minister, who called them “insulting and frankly appalling”.
Shortly after, the US president issued a correction on social media : “The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America.
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.
“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!”
Mr Trump issued no such correction about other Nato allies, including Denmark, who insists Washington remains the country’s “closest ally”.
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