Danish state could face legal action over deal that gives US powers on its soil
Source: The Guardian
Sat 14 Feb 2026 07.00 EST
Last modified on Sat 14 Feb 2026 07.02 EST
Denmark could face legal action over an agreement that gives the US sweeping powers on Danish soil, over claims it is “unconstitutional” and could pose problems in talks with Washington over Greenland.
The agreement, which was signed under the Biden administration in 2023 and was passed by the Danish parliament last year, gives the US “unhindered access” to its airbases and powers over its civilians. Since then, Donald Trump has made threats to invade Greenland, part of the kingdom of Denmark, resulting in a diplomatic crisis between the longtime allies and a deployment of soldiers to Greenland by a number of European countries.
Theresa Scavenius, an independent MP, plans to sue the Danish state over the agreement on the basis that she believes it to be unconstitutional. The Danish constitution states that its sovereignty can be transferred to “international authorities” but only with a constitutional amendment that requires the support of five-sixths of parliament, which the defence agreement does not have.
“The law is unconstitutional because it delegates authority to the US governmental bodies or soldiers on Danish territory over Danish civilians. That is explicitly not allowed in our constitution,” Scavenius told the Guardian. While the agreement does not apply to Greenland, critics claim the Trump administration’s statements on Greenland show the US could be willing to use force on civilians.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/14/denmark-us-powers-legal-action-greenland-washington-donald-trump-europe
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