Danish Veterans Protest Trump’s NATO Comments in Silent March at US Embassy
Hundreds of Danish military veterans staged a silent protest march outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen in response to President Trump’s dismissive comments about NATO forces’ role and Greenland.
Gulf Times reported Saturday that protesters, many of whom fought alongside American forces, marched with Danish flags honoring 43 Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan during the war.
Denmark was among the staunchest US allies in Afghanistan, contributing troops disproportionate to its population size and suffering significant casualties relative to its military. Danish forces operated in Helmand province’s dangerous areas from 2006-2014, conducting combat operations, training Afghan forces, and supporting reconstruction efforts, with over 9,000 Danish soldiers serving in Afghanistan throughout the nearly two-decade mission.
The Danish Veterans Association stated Trump’s remarks have deeply offended soldiers and their families, who feel Denmark’s sacrifices have been disregarded and dismissed by the comments.
NATO’s Afghanistan mission involved contributions from 40 countries with over 130,000 international troops at peak deployment in 2010-2011. While the United States provided the largest contingent, allied nations including Denmark, Britain, Germany, and Canada suffered hundreds of combat deaths and thousands of wounded personnel, with many allies maintaining troops in Afghanistan until the final 2021 withdrawal despite domestic political opposition and mounting casualties.
Trump previously downplayed non-American NATO forces’ contributions to the Afghanistan war, claiming they stayed “a little bit away from the action” and minimized their combat roles.
The protest reflects growing tensions between the United States and European NATO allies over burden-sharing, defense spending, and recognition of allied contributions to joint military operations.
Danish veterans’ demonstration underscores international resentment over Trump’s characterization of allied military sacrifices in Afghanistan, where coalition forces fought alongside American troops for nearly 20 years.
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