A dramatic shift in Danish public opinion shows a majority of citizens now view the United States as an adversary rather than an ally, according to new polling data that represents one of the most significant ruptures in transatlantic relations in NATO's history.
The polling, reported by Danish public broadcaster DR, reveals a seismic shift in how Nordic nations view their security architecture. Denmark has been among Washington's most reliable European allies since 1945, contributing forces to conflicts from Afghanistan to Iraq and hosting crucial early-warning radar installations.
The transformation in Danish sentiment has been driven primarily by American territorial ambitions toward Greenland, the vast autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Recent statements from senior US officials suggesting interest in acquiring or controlling Greenland have provoked widespread outrage across Danish society.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. Denmark's alliance with the United States survived the Cold War, Danish neutrality debates, and disagreements over specific military operations. The relationship was built on shared democratic values and a common assessment of threats to European security.
That foundation now appears fractured. Danish officials have expressed bewilderment at what they characterize as colonial-era rhetoric from an ally they considered a guarantor of the rules-based international order. Greenland's government has unequivocally rejected any change in its status, insisting on its right to self-determination.
The polling data reflects a broader crisis of confidence in American leadership across Europe. What was once unthinkable, a majority of citizens in a founding NATO member viewing the United States as an adversary, has become reality.
The implications for NATO cohesion are profound. Denmark controls strategic waterways and territory crucial to the alliance's northern flank. Its air and naval forces regularly patrol Baltic and North Atlantic approaches. A fundamental breakdown in trust between Copenhagen and Washington complicates alliance coordination at a moment when European security faces multiple challenges.
Danish political leaders across the spectrum have united in response to the Greenland controversy. Prime Minister representatives have called the situation unprecedented, while opposition figures have demanded stronger European security cooperation independent of American guarantees.
The shift in Danish public opinion may prove contagious. Other Nordic and Baltic nations are watching closely, reassessing their own security relationships and considering what was previously unthinkable: European defense architecture built without assumption of American reliability.
