COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Some Danes informed CBS Information on the streets of Copenhagen they’re more and more nervous about their nation’s safety due to what they see because the rising risk from close by Russia and considerations over the reliability of the Trump White Home as an ally.
Kenneth Howery, the brand new U.S ambassador to Denmark, is in Greenland’s capital Nuuk this week for his first journey to the Danish-controlled, however self-governed, nation. He mentioned in a social media submit on X that he and officers from Greenland and Denmark “renewed our dedication to a powerful and mutually helpful relationship” whereas assembly on Monday.
Their assembly got here after U.S. and Danish diplomatic ties have been strained by President Trump reviving his long-standing curiosity in buying Greenland, which the White Home has argued is critical to guard U.S. nationwide safety. Mr. Trump hasn’t dominated out taking Greenland by navy power regardless that Denmark is a member of the U.S.-led NATO alliance.
Hanne Mortenson, a Danish resident of the nation’s capital, informed CBS Information late final week that she has all the time regarded to america as “the perfect of democracy,” however believes the nation is turning into “an increasing number of autocratic.” She mentioned that’s troubling as a consequence of Russia’s repeated, latest incursions into European airspace.
“I noticed this huge map yesterday on TV with how a lot the Russians are coming nearer and that worries me,” Mortensen mentioned, though she added that she would not need the U.S. to take over Greenland regardless of safety considerations associated to Russia.
Denmark is persistently ranked as one of many world’s happiest international locations, in line with the International Happiness Index. However in latest weeks, European nations have reported unidentified drones flying round key infrastructure, together with in Denmark, following Russian drone and fighter jet incursions into Poland, Romania and Estonia. Among the United States’ European NATO allies have alleged airspace incursions are a part of a marketing campaign of escalating hybrid warfare ways by Russia.
In September, Copenhagen Airport was compelled to droop flights as a consequence of unidentified drone sightings. Russia, nevertheless, denied involvement in drone incursions, with its embassy in Denmark saying in an announcement on the time that “incidents involving reported disruptions at Danish airports are a staged provocation. Undoubtedly, they are going to be used as a pretext for additional escalating rigidity within the pursuits of forces in search of by all means to extend the Ukrainian battle and lengthen it to different international locations.”
Nonetheless, one 70-year-old Danish girl informed CBS Information that the Danish sense of safety and contentment is waning.
“The Russians must undergo Denmark to come back to Europe,” she informed CBS Information. “I feel individuals my age are extra nervous as a result of we bear in mind – we’re after World Conflict II kids – so, we bear in mind these days, and now we have heard about it our whole childhood, in regards to the struggle and the difficulties and all of the horror that goes with struggle.”
Copenhagen resident Thomas Geuken, mentioned he was just lately speaking to his 90-year-old father-in-law, “and I requested him this morning, ‘Is the glass half empty or half full?’ And he truly mentioned, ‘Nicely, it is half empty due to the struggle in Ukraine and Russia. So it performs a giant half in our pondering.'”