Danish troops must open fire — even without direct orders — if invaders try to capture Greenland by force, Denmark’s Defense Ministry said as the US weighs military action to annex the land.
The ministry confirmed Wednesday that soldiers are required to uphold a Cold War-era rule to “immediately take up the fight” against any foreign force threatening Danish territory, local Berlingske reported.
The 1952 directive explicitly states that troops must fight without waiting for commands, even if their leaders are unaware of a formal declaration of war, Denmark’s Defense Command and Ministry told the outlet.
The order was initially created as a result of the Nazi attack on Denmark in 1940, when the country’s communication system partially collapsed and military units were left unsure of how to respond to the invading army.
The order has since remained standing in Denmark, which oversees Greenland and has rejected President Trump’s proposals for the US to purchase or seize the island.
