Nearly half of Danes oppose US military presence as key vote in parliament approaches

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN (AA) – A new poll released on Wednesday shows that nearly half of Danes oppose a bill allowing the permanent stationing of US troops and military equipment in Denmark, which is linked to a 2023 defense agreement between the two countries.

According to a survey conducted by Epinion for the state news media outlet DR, 43% of respondents opposed the bill, while 28% supported it. The remaining 29% were undecided.

The agreement, which gives US forces unrestricted access to air bases in Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg, is expected to last at least 10 years and cannot be revoked, according to DR.

When the agreement was signed, Joe Biden was the US president. Concerns about American intentions, particularly regarding Greenland, have strained Danish-US relations since President Donald Trump expressed his intention to take over the world's largest island, which is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, prompting some parties to call for a vote delay.

The first reading of the bill is set for April 11, with final approval expected before the summer break. Despite public skepticism, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen insists the agreement remains crucial for Denmark and Europe.

"I do not believe it is in Denmark's interest to terminate an agreement we have made," Poulsen said. "On the contrary, we must do what we can to maintain an American arrangement in Europe."

With the Socialist People's Party (SF) now backing the bill, only the Red-Green Alliance and the Alternative remain opposed. It appears that with the number of votes in favor of the government, the agreement will pass with smooth sailing.