On June 11, the Danish parliament passed a significant new military agreement with the United States, with a decisive majority of 94 votes in favor and only 11 against.

This agreement facilitates extended access for the U.S. military to operate from bases located in Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg, enabling the storage of military equipment, maintenance operations, exercises, and the stationing of personnel.

Notably, the agreement allows U.S. forces to maintain autonomous legal jurisdiction over their own military personnel, exempting them from Danish laws to a considerable extent.

The agreement was originally signed in December 2023 during the Biden administration, but its finalization occurred following Donald Trump's return to the presidency.

Opposition against the deal has been voiced by segments of the public and certain political factions, primarily due to concerns regarding the potential erosion of Danish sovereignty and its implications for constitutional principles.

Significant opposition votes included those from the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), environmentalists from the Alternativet party, and independent Member of the European Parliament Theresa Scavenius, who criticized the lack of public oversight and transparency in the decision-making process.

Pelle Dragsted, the leader of Enhedslisten, characterized the agreement as detrimental to the interests of the Danish populace, citing risks of creating 'zones under American jurisdiction’ that could lead to abuses.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights has raised alarms over the possibility that American soldiers, acting outside these bases, may intervene in local demonstrations or civilian activities without facing prosecution under Danish law.

The Danish government has firmly rejected these criticisms, asserting that national authorities will retain primary responsibility for security matters.

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard underscored that Danish control remains robust despite the arrangement’s terms.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended the agreement as a proactive response to current geopolitical challenges.

She emphasized that the primary concern lies not in an overwhelming U.S. presence in Europe, but rather in the potential disengagement of the United States or hesitance to support Ukraine amidst ongoing hostilities.

The timing of the agreement’s ratification introduces further complexity to the diplomatic relationship between Denmark and the United States.

President Trump's previous remarks regarding an interest in acquiring Greenland have rekindled tensions that have lingered since 2019. Reports indicate that U.S. intelligence has been directed to monitor movements for Greenland's independence and local sentiment surrounding natural resource extraction, prompting a stern response from Frederiksen, who condemned espionage activities against an ally.

Adding to the intricacies of this relationship, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, during a recent visit to the U.S. space base in Pituffik, encouraged Greenland to sever ties with Denmark to strengthen links with Washington.

This backdrop underscores the strategic importance for the Danish government to maintain open lines of communication with the U.S., with Copenhagen viewing the new military agreement as a means to navigate an increasingly complex bilateral relationship with NATO's primary military ally.