A whole lot of Danish veterans, lots of whom fought alongside U.S. troops within the Center East, staged a silent protest Saturday outdoors the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Trump administration’s threats to take over Greenland and belittling their fight contributions.
“Denmark has at all times stood aspect by aspect with the USA — and we have now confirmed up on the earth’s disaster zones when the USA has requested us to. We really feel let down and ridiculed by the Trump Administration, which is intentionally disregarding Denmark’s fight aspect by aspect with the USA,” Danish Veterans & Veteran Assist mentioned in an announcement.
“Phrases can not describe how a lot it hurts us that Denmark’s contributions and sacrifices within the battle for democracy, peace and freedom are being forgotten within the White Home,” it mentioned.
Emil Helms / Ritzau Scanpix /AFP by way of Getty Pictures 
Danish veterans are livid on the White Home’s rhetoric, which disregards Greenland’s proper to self-determination, a territory of NATO ally Denmark. In addition they strongly object to President Trump’s declare that Denmark is incapable of defending the West’s safety pursuits within the Arctic.
On Saturday, veterans first gathered at a monument honoring fallen Danish service members, then marched to the close by U.S. Embassy, the place they noticed 5 minutes of silence — one every for Denmark’s military, air power, navy, emergency administration company and police.
“We additionally wish to inform Individuals that what Trump mentioned is an insult to us and the values that we defended collectively,” Soren Knudsen, vp of Denmark’s veterans affiliation, informed the Agence France-Presse.
He added that the organizers had been pleasantly shocked by the assist they’ve obtained.
“It began throughout the affiliation and grew into a big occasion,” Knudsen mentioned.
Emil Helms / Ritzau Scanpix /AFP by way of Getty Pictures 
Danish fight veteran Martin Aaholm, who served in Afghanistan alongside U.S. troops and misplaced each of his legs to an improvised explosive machine, informed CBS Information earlier this week that he feels “offended and betrayed” by Mr. Trump’s feedback about Greenland and Denmark.
“I’ve sacrificed a variety of mates, household, girlfriends, all as a result of I used to be positioned on the trail of serving to America after 9/11,” he mentioned, including that it was value serving to America. “I used to be amazed that we’d reply the decision, us little Denmark. I used to be amazed that we had been in a position to battle with the large guys.”
“I feel America has misplaced its soul. It is not the America I grew up with, the place America was the defender of peace on the earth and wished to unfold democracy,” Aaholm added.
Forty-four Danish troopers had been killed in Afghanistan, the best per capita loss of life toll amongst coalition forces. Eight extra died in Iraq.
Tensions had been additional infected on Tuesday when 44 Danish flags — one for each Danish soldier killed in Afghanistan — that had been positioned in entrance of the embassy had been eliminated by embassy employees.
Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures 
The embassy apologized and changed them.
“We’ve nothing however the deepest respect for Danish veterans and the sacrifices Danish troopers have made for our shared safety. There was no ailing intent behind the elimination of the flags,” it mentioned in a publish on its Fb web page.
The State Division later mentioned that, as a normal rule, guard employees take away objects left behind following demonstrations and different “official workouts of free speech.” The flags had been returned to those that left them, it mentioned.
