Danish veterans protest outside the US Embassy regarding Greenland, war donations

Hundreds of Danish veterans, many of whom fought with US troops in the Middle East, held a silent protest Saturday outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Trump administration’s threats to retake Greenland. underestimating their fighting contributions.

“Denmark has always stood in solidarity with the USA – and we have demonstrated in critical places in the world when the USA has asked us to do so. We feel disappointed and mocked by the Trump Administration, which deliberately disrespects Denmark’s fight in cooperation with the USA,” Danish Veterans & Veteran Support said in a statement.

“Words cannot describe how saddened we are by the neglect of Denmark’s contributions and dedication to the fight for democracy, peace and freedom in the White House,” he said.

Danish veterans are furious at the White House’s rhetoric, which ignores Greenland’s right to self-determination, a NATO territory under Denmark. They also strongly disagreed with President Trump’s claim that Denmark cannot protect the security interests of Western countries in the Arctic.

On Saturday, veterans first gathered at a memorial to honor fallen Danish service members, then marched to the nearby US Embassy, ​​where they observed five minutes of silence – one each for the Danish army, air force, navy, emergency management center and police.

“We also want to tell the American people that what Trump said is an insult to us and the principles we have defended together,” Soren Knudsen, vice president of the Danish veterans association, told Agence France-Presse.

He added that the organizers were surprised by the support they received.

“Everything started inside the association and grew into a big event,” said Knudsen.

Danish military veteran Martin Aaholm, who served in Afghanistan with the US military and lost both his legs to an improvised explosive device, told CBS News earlier this week that he felt “angry and betrayed” by Mr. Trump about Greenland and Denmark.

“I have sacrificed many friends, family, girlfriends, all this because I was put on the path to help America after 9/11,” he said, adding that I deserve to help America. “I was surprised that we Danes answered the call. I was surprised that we were able to fight big guys.”

“I think America has lost its soul. It’s not the America I grew up with, when America was the defender of peace in the world and wanted to spread democracy,” said Aaholm.

Forty-four Danish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, the highest number of deaths in the coalition forces. Another eight died in Iraq.

Tensions flared again on Tuesday when 44 Danish flags – one for every Danish soldier killed in Afghanistan – placed in front of the embassy were removed by embassy staff.

The embassy apologized and replaced them.

“We have nothing but deep respect for the Danish veterans and the sacrifices the Danish military has made for our collective security. There was no malicious intent to remove the flags,” it said on its Facebook page.

The State Department later said that, as a general rule, security personnel remove items left behind after demonstrations and other “legitimate free speech exercises.” It said the flags were returned to those who left them.