New agreement places bases in cities such as Karup and Skrydstrup under US jurisdiction

Denmark has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new defence agreement giving the US sweeping powers on Danish soil, including “unhindered access” to its airbases.

The deal, which has been strongly criticised by politicians and human rights experts, means US soldiers in Denmark will remain under US jurisdiction. It gives US soldiers access to Danish airbases in three Danish cities – Karup, Skrydstrup and Aalborg – and grants American soldiers and military police powers over Danish civilians at these locations and outside them.

If US soldiers were to commit a crime in Denmark, they would be punished under the US, not Danish, legal system in the first instance. The US will also be able to carry out military activities in and from Denmark – including stationing personnel, storing military material and equipment, maintenance, training and exercise activities.

Despite heightened tensions between the US and Denmark amid Donald Trump’s unprecedented push to acquire Greenland – a strategically vital part of the Danish kingdom – and reports US intelligence agencies were ordered to increase espionage in the territory, a broad majority of the Danish parliament (Folketinget) voted in support of adopting the agreement. A total of 94 MPs voted for the bill and 11 against.

  • troed@fedia.io
    18·
    2 days ago

    For all those who think this has something to do with Trump. We, Sweden, signed the same under the previous administration.

      • troed@fedia.io
        7·
        2 days ago

        AFAIK it’s standard terms and conditions whenever US has a military presence in another country, and we believe that presence is beneficial in deterring Russia - above and beyond NATO article 5.

        I have no opinion myself beyond having read in the internal debate both “US soldiers are above Swedish law” and “Of course Swedish law applies to them” …

        • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
          6·
          2 days ago

          We had US troops doing rotations in Norway long before we made a deal allowing US jurisdiction on certain bases.

          It’s quite (very) common to give some degree of immunity to visiting allied soldiers. Often, this involves that they will be tried by courts in their home country if they are accused of a crime.

          These new deals are a whole different matter. They give full jurisdiction to the US inside their bases. The major argument against them is essentially that they undermine Norwegian sovereignty on Norwegian soil. For example, we have laws prohibiting storage of nuclear weapons on our soil, but if the US lands a plane carrying nukes on one of these bases, we have signed away our right to inspect them. Even if we knew they carried nukes, we’ve signed away our right to seize them and send them out.

          My personal opinion is that these deals are a major infraction on Norwegian sovereignty, and are possibly unconstitutional for that reason.

        • Buffalox@lemmy.world
          2·
          2 days ago

          I have no opinion myself beyond having read in the internal debate both “US soldiers are above Swedish law” and “Of course Swedish law applies to them” …

          Well both are kind of true. They must follow local laws, but if they don’t, it has to be enforced and prosecuted by the Americans themselves.

      • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
        5·
        2 days ago

        Basically an allied country having a base in your country means that any attacker would presumably also have to attack your ally, drawimg them into the conflict. Obviously agreements like NATO article 5 can do that, but people can back out of agreements. Physical presence is more binding than paper.

        • Buffalox@lemmy.world
          3·
          2 days ago

          That makes sense, and the “paperwork” needs to be ready if we want USA to be able to respond quickly.

  • Siresly@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    15·
    2 days ago

    What why?

    The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said the situation between the two countries made it even more necessary to maintain close ties. “The problem is not too much involvement from the US in Europe. On the contrary, the risk is that the US will withdraw and move troops away or stop donations to Ukraine,” she said.

    What on Bizarro World?

    • TheFogan@programming.devEnglish
      9·
      2 days ago

      Good fucking grief… Have they not watched trumps negotiations and the patterns

      1. Trump makes impossible unreasonable demand.

      2. Other nation gives half as a compromise

      3. Trump takes the half, then attempts to take the rest by force.

      Denmark now needs to be ready to get bombed, by fucking planes launched from their own god damn airbases.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
        5·
        2 days ago

        That’s the weird thing, because she most definitely is not.
        She brought us through the Covid crisis better than mostly any other country, both economically and regarding public health. Despite Denmark was one of the countries that was hit hardest early on.
        When Ukraine was invaded she was also very quick to help Ukraine, and Denmark has been leading many efforts regarding Ukraine. For instance we were first to suggest F16 and to deliver them together with Netherlands, and we send ALL our completely new artillery to Ukraine pretty early on too.

        AFAIK most Danes are against this agreement with USA including myself, but when she does it anyways, I think it may be because she knows something we don’t. Norway and Sweden also have similar agreements.

  • BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    After Trump is bored sending US troops to US cities, he will start sending US troops to “woke” countries who do things like provide immunization vaccines.

  • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
    74·
    2 days ago

    EU. Keep your eyes on these people. Anyone that wholeheartedly embraces this administration and its demands is not your friend.

    • Buffalox@lemmy.world
      41·
      2 days ago

      Obviously we don’t. Because all our new military spending is European. Like we just signed an air defense deal for 6bl DKK, entirely based on European equipment.
      We are also working hard on getting rid of American software and services, like some other European countries are.
      And we are among the absolute top contributors to Ukraine per capita.

      So maybe you should think twice before spewing such bullshit. 🤮