 | |
 Denmark |  United States |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Denmark, Washington, D.C. | Embassy of the United States, Copenhagen |
| Envoy | |
| Danish Ambassador to the United States Lone Dencker Wisborg | American Ambassador to Denmark Alan Leventhal |
Diplomatic relations between Denmark and the United States of America began in 1783. Both countries are members of the Arctic Council, OECD, OSCE, NATO and the United Nations.
Diplomatic relations date back to 1783, when Denmark signed a commercial treaty with the United States. [1] In 1792, Denmark recognized the independence of the United States. [2] In 1801, diplomatic relations were established, and an American legation was opened in Denmark. [2] The diplomatic relations have never experienced an interruption, since 1801. [2] [3]
In 1801, Denmark became an ally of France and its war against Great Britain, and the Danish Navy seized American merchant ships. A treaty of commerce was signed in 1826, and Denmark agreed to pay the United States an indemnity of $650,000. During the American Civil War, Washington proposed to purchase the Danish West Indies to better maintain its blockade of the Confederacy. The United States Senate refused to go along, and negotiations continued intermittently for five more decades, but both sides had internal opposition.
Denmark was neutral in World War I, but suffered a significant disruption in trade, and decided its colonies were a financial burden, especially as the inhabitants were restive. The United States did not want Germany to purchase the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John. [4] In 1916, Denmark sold their Danish West Indies to the United States, and both countries signed the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. The sale for $25 million deal was finalized on 17 January 1917. On 31 March 1917, the United States took possession of the islands and the territory was renamed the Virgin Islands of the United States. [5] [6]
During World War II, in April 1941, the United States worked with Henrik Kauffmann Denmark's ambassador to Washington to establish a temporary protectorate over Greenland. [7] [8]
In 1947, the Danish Lelegation to the United States was upgraded to embassy status by President Truman. [9]
Rejecting Denmark's long history of neutrality, it joined NATO as a founding member in 1949. The country remains a member but there has always been a strong anti-NATO element in left-wing Danish circles. In December 1995, Danish troops deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force were assigned to the American sector, coming under direct American command. [10]
Denmark, a member of the EU, sanctioned Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, US President Biden met with Danish prime minister Frederiksen at the Oval Office and praised Denmark for 'standing up' for Ukraine in war with Russia. [11]
In the following days, Denmark, the US, the UK, and the Netherlands released a joint statement on delivering ‘high priority’ air defence equipment to Ukraine. [12]
Denmark is a close NATO ally, and relations are described as "excellent". Denmark is active in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as a leader in the Baltic region. Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed that Denmark would remain engaged in Iraq even as its troop levels declined.[ citation needed ] Denmark was the only Scandinavian country to approve of the American Invasion of Iraq, and Denmark and the United States consult closely on European political and security matters. Denmark shares U.S. views on the positive ramifications of NATO enlargement. Denmark is an active coalition partner in the war on terrorism, and Danish troops are supporting American-led stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States also engages Denmark in a broad cooperative agenda through the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe; The U.S. policy structure to strengthen U.S.-Nordic-Baltic policy and program coordination. [13]
There exits a Congressional caucus that promotes strong relationships with Denmark. It's called the Congressional Friends of Denmark. [14]
Denmark's active liberal trade policy in the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Trade Organization largely coincides with U.S. interests. The U.S. is Denmark's largest non-European trade partner with about 5% of Danish merchandise trade. Denmark's role in European environmental and agricultural issues and its strategic location at the entrance to the Baltic Sea have made Copenhagen a center for U.S. agencies and the private sector dealing with the Nordic/Baltic region. [13]
Shortly before the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire, United States Secretary of State William H. Seward attempted to buy both Greenland and Iceland from Denmark, but was unsuccessful. [15]
Following World War II, the United States developed a geopolitical interest in Greenland, and in 1946, the United States offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for $100,000,000, but Denmark refused to sell. [16] [17]
Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. Space Force base and early warning radar at Thule, Greenland, a Danish self-governing territory serve as a vital link in western defenses. In August 2004, the Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments gave permission for the early warning radar to be updated in connection with a role in the U.S. ballistic missile defense system. At the same time, agreements were signed to enhance economic, technical, and environmental cooperation between the United States and Greenland. [13]
On 10 June 2020, the United States reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. The first U.S. consulate in Nuuk closed in 1953. [18]
The 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash was an accident on 21 January 1968, involving a United States Air Force B-52 bomber. The aircraft was carrying four hydrogen bombs on a Cold War "Chrome Dome" alert mission over Baffin Bay when a cabin fire forced the crew to abandon the aircraft before they could carry out an emergency landing at Thule Air Base. Six crew members ejected safely, but one who did not have an ejection seat was killed while trying to bail out. The bomber crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay, Greenland, causing the nuclear payload to rupture and disperse, which resulted in widespread radioactive contamination. The United States and Denmark launched an intensive clean-up and recovery operation, but the secondary of one of the nuclear weapons could not be accounted for after the operation completed. [19] [20]
In 2019, President Donald Trump discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland with senior advisers. Numerous Greenlandic and Danish politicians, including the Premier of Greenland and the Prime Minister of Denmark, rebuffed the idea, saying that the island is not for sale. [21] [22] A few days later, Trump abruptly postponed a planned state visit to Denmark just days before, citing their unwillingness to discuss his proposal of buying Greenland. [23]
In 1967, Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik visited the United States. [24]
Former President Bill Clinton visited Denmark in July 1997, [25] and again in 2005 and 2007. [26] American President George W. Bush made an official visit to Copenhagen in July 2005, and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Bush at Camp David in June 2006. [13]
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Denmark to support the Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics in October 2009, [27] and in December 2009, Obama visited Denmark again for the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [28] In March 2009, former Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen met former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Gaza Donor Conference, [29] and again in a NATO meeting in April 2010, where they met in Estonia. [30]
In March 2009, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary visited the Midwest. They visited The Danish Home in Chicago, and the Danish villages of Elk Horn, Ames, Kimballton and the Grand View University in Iowa. In Nebraska, the couple visited Dana College. [24] "States like Iowa and Nebraska boast numerous examples of Danish settlements ... Both universities have made great strides to become highly recognized institutions of higher learning, as well as strengthening ties between Denmark and the United States", Crown Prince Frederik said. [24]
On 9 March 2011, Obama met with former Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the White House, where they discussed counter-terrorism, the Arab Spring and environmental issues. [31]
On 30 March 2017, Rasmussen visited President Donald Trump in the United States. Discussion points were the state of the bilateral relations as well as counter-terrorism, economic opportunities, and NATO. [32]
On 20 August 2019, President Donald Trump abruptly postponed a state visit to Denmark just days before after the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had declined Trump's offer to buy Greenland, saying that the island is not for sale. [33] [34]
The following chart shows dollar figures from the US Census Bureau's Trade in Goods page. In positive columns, the US exported less than it imported.
Being part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the foreign relations of Greenland are handled in cooperation with the government of Denmark and the government of Greenland.
The Prime Minister's Office is the cabinet ministry of the Kingdom of Denmark, tasked with assisting the Prime Minister of Denmark, as well as the Cabinet of Denmark and Council of State.
Jeppe Sebastian Kofod is a former Danish politician of the Social Democratic Party who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark between 27 June 2019 to 15 December 2022.
British–Danish relations are foreign relations between the United Kingdom and Denmark. The United Kingdom has an embassy in Copenhagen and Denmark has an embassy in London. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and NATO. In addition, both countries' royal families are descended from the House of Glücksburg.
The relations between Denmark and Ireland have been described as "excellent", and the two countries enjoy strong trade and cultural ties. Denmark has an embassy in Dublin, and Ireland has an embassy in Copenhagen.
The politics of Denmark take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state in which the monarch of Denmark, King Frederik X, is the head of state. Denmark is a nation state. Danish politics and governance are characterized by a common striving for broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole.
Mette Frederiksen is a Danish politician who has been serving as prime minister of Denmark since June 2019, and leader of the Social Democrats since June 2015. The second woman to hold either office, she is also the youngest prime minister in Danish history, the first to be born after Margrethe II's accession to the throne, and the first to serve under Frederik X.
Denmark–Ukraine relations are the current and historical relations between Denmark and Ukraine. Denmark recognized Ukraine on 31 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 12 February 1992.
Denmark–Lithuania relations refers to the historical and current diplomatic relations between Denmark and Lithuania. Lithuania has an embassy in Copenhagen, and Denmark has an embassy in Vilnius. Denmark first recognized Lithuania in 1921 and again on 28 February 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations were established on 24 August 1991. The Danish recognition in 1991 has been described as "extremely important for Lithuania". Both countries are members of the European Union, NATO, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe.
Denmark–India relations, also referred to as Indo-Danish relations, are the bilateral relations between Denmark and India. Denmark maintains an embassy in New Delhi, while India has an embassy in Copenhagen.
Denmark–Latvia relations refers to the historical and current diplomatic relations between Denmark and Latvia. Denmark has an embassy in Riga and Latvia has an embassy in Copenhagen.
Denmark–Georgia relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and Georgia. Denmark is represented in Georgia, through its embassy in Tbilisi. Georgia has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark supports Georgia to become a member of the European Union and NATO. Both nations are members of the Council of Europe.
Eksperimentet is a 2010 Danish drama film written and directed by Louise Friedberg, and starring Ellen Hillingsø. The film premiered on 28 August 2010 in the Katuaq Culture Centre in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The release date of the film in Denmark was 9 September 2010.
The Arctic Policy of the Kingdom of Denmark defines the Kingdom's foreign relations and policies with other Arctic countries, and the Kingdom's strategy for the Arctic on issues occurring within the geographic boundaries of "the Arctic" or related to the Arctic or its peoples. In order to clearly understand the Danish geopolitical importance of the Arctic, it is necessary to mention Denmark's territorial claims in areas beyond its exclusive EEZ in areas around the Faroe Islands and north of Greenland covering parts of the North Pole, which is also claimed by Russia.
The Embassy of the United States to the Kingdom of Denmark is the diplomatic mission of the United States in Denmark. The building is located on Dag Hammarskjölds Allé, in Indre Østerbro, Copenhagen, and it was opened in May 1954. The embassy also oversees American interests in Greenland. On 10 June 2020, the United States reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland.
The Alliance of DemocraciesFoundation (AoD) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of democracy and free markets across the globe. It was established in December 2017 by former NATO Secretary General and former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen together with businessman Fritz Schur and lawyer Klaus Søgaard.
Since 1867, the United States has considered, or made, several proposals to purchase the island of Greenland from Denmark, as it did with the Danish West Indies in 1917. While Greenland remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a 1951 treaty gives the United States much control over an island it once partially claimed from exploration.
Events in the year 2022 in Denmark.
Lone Dencker Wisborg is a Danish diplomat, lawyer and civil servant. She is the current Permanent Representative of Denmark to NATO, having previously served as Ambassador of Denmark to the United States, from 2019 to 2022, the first woman to hold that position.
Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe is a Danish diplomat and civil servant. He is the current NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber, having previously served as Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the Danish Prime Minister's Office between 2019 and 2024, under Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Grønland er ikke til salg. Grønland er ikke dansk. Grønland er grønlandsk. Jeg håber vedholdende at det ikke er noget, der er alvorligt ment, sagde Mette Frederiksen om Trumps udmeldinger om at købe Grønland [Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is Greenlandic. I truly hope it is not a serious suggestion, Mette Frederiksen said about Trump's announcement about buying Greenland]
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
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