Geographically isolated and with an inclement climate (it rains 300 days a year and the wind reaches hurricane-force gusts), the Faroe Islands are another piece of the Kingdom of Denmark that has gained growing importance on the geopolitical chessboard. This archipelago, made up of eighteen islands, is in a privileged position to monitor the North Atlantic, where world powers compete for control of the Arctic gateways. European fishing fleets and American warships converge in its waters. At the same time, the Faroe Islands maintain a controversial trade agreement with Russia on fishing, the heart of an economy that does not depend on donations from Copenhagen (as is the case with Greenland). The Faroe Islands are part of NATO through Denmark, but they are not part of the European Union, as the autonomous government is not interested in entering into community fishing regulations.In these circumstances, the Faroese (55,000 inhabitants) elected a new government at the end of March to manage their extensive autonomy, while Denmark retains powers over defense, security, foreign policy, currency, and courts. The victory of the Conservative Party at the polls opens the door for Beinir Johannesen, 29 years old, to become the youngest prime minister the country has ever had.At a time when Donald Trump's desires for Greenland have generated anxiety in the region, the elections have set aside geopolitics and have focused on the economy, which is in expansion. The Atlantic nation's GDP per capita exceeds that of Denmark, thanks to salmon farm exports, which are worth one billion euros annually. The unemployment rate is around 1%, and the country has modern infrastructure, such as the world's first roundabout built under the sea.However, housing prices in the capital, Tórshavn, are a headache for those who want to live there, at the same time as the islands face a serious depopulation problem. Among 25-year-old Faroese, 40% choose to move abroad and approximately one in five never return. Another controversy is the largest construction project in their history: a 23-kilometer subsea tunnel that will cost the equivalent of 20% of the country's GDP.In the background of the elections, there has also been independence with Denmark, an option defended by five of the six main Faroese political formations. In 1946, the Faroese voted by a narrow margin to separate from Denmark, but at that time the Danish king Christian X did not approve it. Finally, self-government powers were expanded in 2005, after the Faroe Islands and Denmark had been connected for more than 600 years.At the beginning of this year, the Faroese government was set to reopen negotiations with Copenhagen with the intention of pushing for greater autonomy. But that was before Trump triggered the worst diplomatic crisis in the Danish kingdom over control of the Arctic island of Greenland. Faced with this situation, the Faroese leaders decided it was not the time to enter into in-depth negotiations with Copenhagen over their sovereignty: “Given the climate that was generated, it was seen that it was not opportune to start negotiations on the condition of a new state, as everything was unpredictable”, reasons Heini í Skorini, an expert in international relations at the University of the Faroe Islands.The expert explains that the reasons for independence are based on the will to have a voice of our own on the international stage: “For us, the fact of not being a sovereign entity makes it very difficult for us to negotiate new and better free trade agreements because this is done between states”, he argues. Skorini also points out that “there is a political consensus that the next step is to achieve statehood, without this necessarily implying leaving the Danish Commonwealth”.Increase in geopolitical tension

While the issue of sovereignty has been put aside, the Faroese government has extended the controversial fishing agreement with Russia year after year to exchange quotas, despite the war in Ukraine. This cooperation in fishing has irritated Copenhagen and Brussels, even though from Tórshavn it is justified that food products are not subject to sanctions. They also recall that Norway has ratified similar agreements with Moscow: “On the one hand, all EU sanctions against Russia have been adopted because we want to be part of Europe and NATO, but, on the other hand, the decision has been made to maintain fishing cooperation with the Russians,” details Skorini.Although the Faroe Islands have attracted much less attention than Greenland, the Faroese perceive the growing interest of superpowers: “Some years ago it would have been science fiction to see a North American nuclear submarine surfacing in a Faroese port, but today it is no longer the case,” assures the expert. The archipelago is located in the so-called GIUK gap between Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland, a point that NATO keeps a close eye on because it represents the exit to the Atlantic for the Russian submarine fleet based in the Arctic. Faroese politicians have also expressed their concern that Russian fishing vessels anchored in the islands may be carrying out espionage operations. To monitor all this, the United States will install new radars to observe what is happening in the archipelago's waters, “although the increase in US military presence also creates some suspicions,” acknowledges Skorini.

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Denmark's Social Democratic Party, led by acting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, won Tuesday's general election, though it failed to secure an absolute majority for the left-wing (red) bloc after suffering a significant setback. With only 21.9% of the vote and 38 seats, the party achieved its worst results since 1901. In the 2022 election, Frederiksen, in power since 2019, won 50 seats and 27.54% of the vote. Despite the setback, the candidate seeking reelection managed to reverse a trend in the polls, which had seen her support plummet to 16%. Her strongest ally was Donald Trump and his ambition to annex Greenland by forceFrederiksen has displayed a profile of a strong stateswoman, sending troops and medical supplies to the island and positioning herself as the defender of Danish sovereignty against what many have described as "bullying" by the United States. It was in this favorable context that she called the early elections. But voters have created a highly fragmented Folketinget (the Danish Parliament). The gap between the traditional left-wing and right-wing blocs is only seven seats (84 to 77), in a quarter where an absolute majority is 90. "I have been responsible for this wonderful country for almost seven years," Frederiksen said when she appeared before her supporters in the early hours of the morning. "I am still ready to take on the responsibility as Prime Minister of Denmark," she affirmed. The Moderates hold the key to forming a government.

The key to who will form the government, however, lies with Els Moderats, a small centrist party that won 14 seats, two fewer than in the last parliamentary elections. Led by the outgoing Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, former Prime Minister (2015-2019), it continues to maintain its position of kingmakerRasmussen retains the ability to tip the balance to the left or right.

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The idea that the Nordic countries should develop a joint nuclear weapons program would have been considered absurd and ridiculous just a few years ago. But now times have changed, and the uncertainty over whether the United States is no longer a reliable ally is generating profound Concern in a region that fears Russian aggressionIn this context, a question is circulating that would have been unthinkable before, but which is starting to be heard among various personalities and academics, who are questioning whether the time has come for the Nordic countries to build their own nuclear protection umbrella.

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Birgitte Thorup Nielsen (67 years old) carefully descends the icy stairs to avoid slipping. The sea water is -1 degree Celsius, and the strong wind whips up waves that splash her swimsuit before she enters the water. On a winter morning, the sun is hidden behind a gray sky, and the air temperature is -4 degrees Celsius, but the gusts of wind make the cold feel even more intense.

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The Danes have our general sympathy. It's not a recent development that Trump wants to keep Greenland. There was a time (we didn't dream it up, did we?) when our politicians envisioned Catalonia's desirable future as the "Denmark of the South," but that opportunity passed them by, and now trains don't run and goods have to wait at the port, and, as the poet said, you don't know what it means to keep. containers on the dock.

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After weeks of threats against Greenland, Donald Trump appears to have curbed his ambition to seize the Arctic island by force after reaching an alleged agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Against this backdrop of tense calm, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen are undertaking a mini-tour of Europe this week to thank European countries for their political and military support in the face of Trump's imperialist stance. The two leaders met Tuesday in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and on Wednesday traveled to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.

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The influence and strength of NATO allies are not measured solely by troop numbers or defense budget figures. Denmark clearly illustrates this. Despite being a small nation with a modestly sized armed forces, the Nordic country has built a reputation as a crucial member for NATO's interests. This is due to its geographic location and its political reliability, as it has historically been one of Washington's closest and most loyal allies.

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"Greenland for Greenlanders." "Greenland is not for sale." "Land of the Greenlanders." "Neither Americans nor Danes, we arekalaal cama"In recent months, but especially in the last three weeks, cries like these have been repeated, probably more insistently than ever. Polls confirm that the vast majority of the population of the Arctic island don't even want to hear about becoming part of the United States, and a similar majority states that the goal is independence for the region. ~BK_SLT_L Denmark achieved a high level of autonomy in 2009. The self-government law passed in the Danish Parliament established a guide for Greenland's independence, stipulating that if the Greenlandic people decide to opt for independence, negotiations must begin between the governments of Copenhagen. Regarding defense, security, and foreign policy

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After weeks of maximalist threats about annexing Greenland, Donald Trump surprised everyone on Wednesday with the announcement of a "framework for a future agreement" on the Arctic island. What was surprising was that this announcement didn't come after he met with representatives from Greenland or Denmark, but rather with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has no jurisdiction over the Arctic island. Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, made this clear: "No one, apart from Greenland and Denmark, has the mandate to make agreements on Greenland without us. This is not going to happen." He also emphasized that no one had informed them of the terms of the supposed preliminary agreement: "I don't know what's in the agreement regarding my country." In a press conference from Nuuk, the head of the island's autonomous government reiterated that he had no details about the supposed preliminary agreement announced by Trump. He also recalled that, in a meeting in Washington last week at the level of foreign ministersIt was agreed to create a high-level working group to find a viable solution. "We have red lines that cannot be crossed," he insisted: respect for territorial integrity, international law, sovereignty, and Greenland's right to self-determination.

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While the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland were meeting with Marco Rubio and JD Vance in Copenhagen on Wednesday, the Danish defense minister announced an increase in military personnel on the Arctic island. Earlier in the week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, He had already indicated that the intention was to strengthen their presence in the Arctic.not only with Danish personnel, but also from other European allies. The Danish Ministry of Defense has detailed that, together with several Arctic and European allies, they will "explore in the coming weeks how to implement an increased presence and exercise activity in the Arctic." So far, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and France have confirmed they will send troops to the Arctic island, and Spain stated this Thursday that it is not ruling it out.

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The governments of Denmark and Greenland sought to send a unified message of unity on Tuesday amidst the growing threats from US President Donald Trump to conquer the Arctic islandDanish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen held a joint press conference at Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish government and parliament, to reiterate a unified message they have been repeating in recent days: Greenland is not for sale.

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US President Donald Trump has spent the last week issuing threats left and right. The White House's insistence on taking control of Greenland, even by force, puts Europe and NATO in an unprecedented and uncertain position. We spoke with Danish political scientist Sten Rynning, author of the book NATO. From Cold War to Ukraine, a history of the world’s most powerful alliance.

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When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, there was little doubt that the US president would distance himself from Europe and unsettle NATO. But a year later, Trump's actions are far more disturbing than anyone could have predicted.Not only does he utterly despise European countries and their leaders, but he has also shamelessly ignored international norms to capture the president of Venezuela and seize control of the country. Now he is threatening Greenland, the autonomous Arctic territory belonging to Denmark, a member of the European Union and NATO. If he follows through on this threat, the consequences for the Atlantic Alliance could be devastating.

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From the beginning of his second term—and even during his first—Donald Trump has always shown particular interest in Greenland, which enjoys a high degree of self-government but is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of the European Union and NATO. Following the attack on Venezuela, the US president has launched a wave of threats against this strategically valuable Arctic island and made it clear their willingness to acquire-if necessary, through military intervention.

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Christian Bækgaard gets on his bicycle, wearing his vest and carrying the parcels, just like every day, and prepares to deliver the mail as he has done for the past twenty years. But this Tuesday is different; he will deliver his last letter. The Danish public postal company, PostNord, is ceasing mail collection and delivery, thus ending a tradition of more than 401 years. "It's sad, but new times are coming," Bækgaard told the public broadcaster Danmarks Radio. Denmark is the first European country to make such a decision, driven by falling demand: over the past 25 years, the volume of letters has decreased by 90%. Since 2000, when a record 1.5 billion letters were sent, the number of letters sent by Danes has plummeted to 122 million last year. The Danish state has been moving toward this goal for some time. In 2014, it was decided that all communications between authorities and citizens would be issued digitally. The definitive step came in 2023, when a new law ended the universal service obligation in Denmark (which required postal companies to provide service at an affordable price), and de factoThe market was privatized after PostNord accumulated losses in the millions.

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The a hard line against immigration The policy that the Danish government has been promoting in recent years has suffered a significant setback from the European courts, now that other European countries, with the United Kingdom at the forefront, intend to emulate the Danish migration model.

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Denmark 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.

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Beneath the streets of Copenhagen lie vestiges of the Cold War that the Danish Parliament wants to unearth. For decades, the subsoil of the Danish capital housed a network of 6,000 public bunkers to protect against air raids. Today, hidden among weeds and covered in graffiti, 1,000 shelters remain, relics of a past that everyone had forgotten.

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Aalborg Airport in Denmark was closed again Thursday night due to the presence of drones in its airspace, local police reported early this morning. The closure lasted just over an hour, and the airport reopened at 12:35 a.m.

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Andreas Christensen has become Hansi Flick's alternative, as he doesn't have to move Pau Cubarsí to the left. The Danish player, who started in the last La Liga match in Vallecas alongside Eric Garcia, can play on the left wing and to fill the gap left by Iñigo Martínez without having to make any other changes to the Barça defensive line.Despite his contract expiring next June, there are still no talks about renewing Christensen's contract, and he will have to earn his place at Barça with strong performances on the pitch.

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