01/13/2026
🇩🇰🇬🇱 Danish troops stationed in Greenland are authorized under the Cold War-era “1952 order” to respond immediately to any attack, without waiting for approval from Copenhagen. This directive ensures that soldiers can defend Danish territory instantly, even if communication lines are cut or political leaders are unaware.
The order, created after lessons from the 1940 German invasion of Denmark, removes hesitation by making immediate armed resistance the default. In Greenland, the Joint Arctic Command decides what qualifies as an attack, meaning any foreign attempt at takeover will be met with swift and legal defense.