Danish intelligence services no longer consider the US a reliable ally

CopenhagenDenmark no longer considers the United States under Donald Trump a reliable ally for its security. This conclusion is drawn from the annual report published by the Danish military intelligence service (FE), which outlines the threats detected against the country. The report states that the main threats come from Russia and China, along with a list of terrorist organizations. What has caused surprise is the addition of the United States this year, despite the country being a long-standing ally of Denmark within the NATO framework.

The concrete threat is that the US is using economic power, including threats of tariff increases, to impose its will, and is no longer ruling out the use of military force, even against its allies. Smaller nations must adapt. In this global context, Russia, China, and also the US are increasingly prioritizing their own interests, using force to achieve their objectives.

The mention of the US in the report serves as confirmation that Diplomatic relations between Copenhagen and Washington have deteriorated. The rift has deteriorated dramatically in the last year. It began after US President Donald Trump was re-elected and repeatedly expressed interest in annexing Greenland, which Denmark currently controls.

In fact, the report includes a separate and extensive chapter on the Arctic region, comparing US interests with those of Russia and China. The document states,the growing US interest in Greenland Regarding US national security,” considering that this fact “increases the threats of espionage, including cyber espionage, and attempts to exert influence” against Denmark on its territory. In reference to this warning, the Danish newspaper [name missing] reported in the last year Politiken It has been uncovering US attempts to influence Greenland through the purchase of local companies by businessmen close to Trump, and attempts to hold bilateral meetings with the government of Nuuk without going through Denmark.

Experts have also noted that the report makes no mention of the fact that the US maintains the Thule military base on the Arctic island, thanks to a defense agreement signed with Denmark in 1951. Intelligence services do acknowledge that Russia remains the strongest military power in the Arctic region among Western countries.

Uncertainty regarding the US towards Europe

Another relevant point mentioned in the FE report is the "uncertainty surrounding the role of the United States as a guarantor of security in Europe." According to the Danish intelligence service, this shift brought about by the Trump presidency in the White House "may impact Russia's willingness to escalate hybrid attacks against NATO," something that "requires..." many European countries arming and cooperate to strengthen deterrence against Russia."

In this regard, the head of the Danish intelligence services, Thomas Ahrenkiel, told Danish media that, "unfortunately, Denmark and the rest of Europe face a dilemma." "On the one hand, we are completely dependent on American security and its contribution to defending Europe. And on the other hand, we are facing a United States that primarily looks after its own interests, with a worldview different from what it likely had before, and that uses all means to achieve its objectives," he said.

According to Ole Wæver, professor of international politics at the University of Copenhagen, it is remarkable that intelligence services have "finally" suggested that "the US and Europe are no longer two sides of the same coin." "As for Denmark, the divorce is painful, because compared to other European countries, we Danes have been hyper-Atlantic," he adds.

Wæver refers to the fact that, historically, Denmark has been a strong advocate for transatlantic cooperation, although this stance has been evolving since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the Danish government continuing to assert that the US "is the closest ally" for the country, they are working to build a common security and defense policy.

However, the FE report emphasizes that the main risks to Danish security continue to come from Russia and China, as the core of a group of countries seeking to reduce Western influence in the world. The document also warns that Russia's military threat to NATO will increase in the coming years, although there is currently no threat of a planned military attack against Denmark.