A 1952 Danish Military Order Draws Attention

As the US escalates talk about gaining control of Danish-controlled Greenland, a Cold War-era directive has drawn attention. It stipulates that Denmark's troops must immediately engage with foreign troops attacking Danish territory, even if they have not received explicit orders to do so, reports EuroNews. Denmark's Defense Ministry has confirmed that the directive from 1952 is still in force, according to the Danish newspaper Berlingske. The report, however, seems to have led to some over-hyped news coverage.

The debunking site Snopes notes that a headline this week in the UK's Telegraph read, "Denmark 'will shoot first and ask questions later' over Greenland," and that sentiment seems to have been picked up in a game of media telephone. In some cases, the coverage has inaccurately suggested that Denmark has issued a new order specific to the US statements, notes Snopes, which isn't the case.

The story has gotten traction mainly because the White House has stipulated that use of the military "is always an option" for President Trump to acquire Greenland, per the BBC. The situation may clarify next week when Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Danish officials for talks. Rubio told reporters this week that Trump's goal all along has been to buy Greenland from Denmark, not seize it, reports ABC News.