# Denmark–United States relations

Diplomatic relations between Denmark and the United States of America began in 1783. Both countries are founding members of the Arctic Council, OECD, OSCE, NATO and the United Nations.

## History

Diplomatic relations date back to 1783, when Denmark signed a commercial treaty with the United States. In 1792, Denmark recognized the independence of the United States. In 1801, diplomatic relations were established, and an American legation was opened in Denmark. The diplomatic relations have never experienced an interruption, since 1801.
In 1801, Denmark became an ally of France and its war against Great Britain, and the Danish Navy seized American merchant ships. A treaty of commerce was signed in 1826, and Denmark agreed to pay the United States an indemnity of $650,000. During the American Civil War, Lincoln proposed to purchase the Danish West Indies to better maintain its blockade of the Confederacy. The United States Senate refused to go along, and negotiations continued intermittently for five more decades, but both sides had internal opposition.

### World War I

Denmark was neutral in World War I, but suffered a significant disruption in trade, and decided its colonies were a financial burden, especially as the inhabitants were restive. The United States did not want Germany to purchase the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John. In 1916, Denmark sold their Danish West Indies to the United States, and both countries signed the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. The sale for $25 million deal was finalized on 17 January 1917. On 31 March 1917, the United States took possession of the islands and the territory was renamed the Virgin Islands of the United States.

### World War II

During World War II, in April 1941, the United States worked with Henrik Kauffmann, Denmark's ambassador to Washington, to establish a temporary protectorate over Greenland.

### 1945-present

In 1947, the Danish Legation to the United States was upgraded to embassy status by President Truman.
Rejecting Denmark's long history of neutrality, it joined NATO as a founding member in 1949. Danish troops deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force were assigned to the American sector, coming under direct American command.

#### Russo-Ukrainian war

Denmark, a member of the EU, sanctioned Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, US President Biden met with Danish prime minister Frederiksen at the Oval Office and praised Denmark for 'standing up' for Ukraine in war with Russia.
In the following days, Denmark, the US, the UK, and the Netherlands released a joint statement on delivering ‘high priority’ air defence equipment to Ukraine.
Denmark is active in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as a leader in the Baltic region. Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed that Denmark would remain engaged in Iraq even as its troop levels declined. Denmark was the only Scandinavian country to approve of the American Invasion of Iraq, and Denmark and the United States consult closely on European political and security matters. Denmark shares U.S. views on the positive ramifications of NATO enlargement. Denmark is an active coalition partner in the war on terrorism, and Danish troops are supporting American-led stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States also engages Denmark in a broad cooperative agenda through the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe; The U.S. policy structure to strengthen U.S.-Nordic-Baltic policy and program coordination.

## Trade

Denmark's active liberal trade policy in the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Trade Organization largely coincides with U.S. interests. The U.S. is Denmark's largest non-European trade partner with about 5% of Danish merchandise trade. Denmark's role in European environmental and agricultural issues and its strategic location at the entrance to the Baltic Sea have made Copenhagen a center for U.S. agencies and the private sector dealing with the Nordic/Baltic region.

## Greenland

Shortly before the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire, United States Secretary of State William H. Seward attempted to buy both Greenland and Iceland from Denmark, but was unsuccessful.
Following World War II, the United States developed a geopolitical interest in Greenland, and in 1946, the United States offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for $100,000,000, but Denmark refused to sell.
Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. Space Force base and early warning radar at Thule, Greenland, a Danish self-governing territory serve as a vital link in western defenses. In August 2004, the Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments gave permission for the early warning radar to be updated in connection with a role in the U.S. ballistic missile defense system. At the same time, agreements were signed to enhance economic, technical, and environmental cooperation between the United States and Greenland.
The United States expressed interest in investing in the resource base of Greenland and in tapping hydrocarbons off the Greenlandic coast. In August 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed to buy the country, prompting Greenlandic prime minister Kim Kielsen to issue the statement, "Greenland is not for sale and cannot be sold, but Greenland is open for trade and cooperation with other countries—including the United States."
On 10 June 2020, the United States reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. The first U.S. consulate in Nuuk closed in 1953.
Following his re-election in 2024, the same U.S. president issued the following statement on his personal social media network, Truth Social, prior to re-taking office: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” to which Prime Minister Múte Egede responded in a written comment: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."

### 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash

The 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash was an accident on 21 January 1968, involving a United States Air Force B-52 bomber. The aircraft was carrying four hydrogen bombs on a Cold War "Chrome Dome" alert mission over Baffin Bay when a cabin fire forced the crew to abandon the aircraft before they could carry out an emergency landing at Thule Air Base. Six crew members ejected safely, but one who did not have an ejection seat was killed while trying to bail out. The bomber crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay, Greenland, causing the nuclear payload to rupture and disperse, which resulted in widespread radioactive contamination. The United States and Denmark launched an intensive clean-up and recovery operation, but the secondary of one of the nuclear weapons could not be accounted for after the operation completed.

### Proposed purchases by Donald Trump

In 2019, President Donald Trump discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland with senior advisers. Numerous Greenlandic and Danish politicians, including the Premier of Greenland and the Prime Minister of Denmark, rebuffed the idea, saying that the island is not for sale. A few days later, Trump abruptly postponed a planned state visit to Denmark just days before, citing their unwillingness to discuss his proposal of buying Greenland.
In late 2024, Trump wrote in the Truth Social that the United States has an absolute necessity to own and control Greenland, citing reasons of "national security" and "freedom throughout the world." Trump's claims have been rejected by the Danish government, and 85% of Greenlandic adults surveyed oppose the move. Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff Miles Taylor also indicated that Donald Trump might consider swapping Puerto Rico for Greenland during his presidency.

## State visits

In 1967, Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik visited the United States.
Former President Bill Clinton visited Denmark in July 1997, and again in 2005 and 2007. American President George W. Bush made an official visit to Copenhagen in July 2005, and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Bush at Camp David in June 2006.
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Denmark to support the Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics in October 2009, and in December 2009, Obama visited Denmark again for the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. In March 2009, former Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen met former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Gaza Donor Conference, and again in a NATO meeting in April 2010, where they met in Estonia.
In March 2009, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary visited the Midwest. They visited The Danish Home in Chicago, and the Danish villages of Elk Horn, Ames, Kimballton and the Grand View University in Iowa. In Nebraska, the couple visited Dana College. "States like Iowa and Nebraska boast numerous examples of Danish settlements ... Both universities have made great strides to become highly recognized institutions of higher learning, as well as strengthening ties between Denmark and the United States", Crown Prince Frederik said.
On 9 March 2011, Obama met with former Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the White House, where they discussed counter-terrorism, the Arab Spring and environmental issues.
On 30 March 2017, Rasmussen visited President Donald Trump in the United States. Discussion points were the state of the bilateral relations as well as counter-terrorism, economic opportunities, and NATO.
On 20 August 2019, President Donald Trump abruptly postponed a state visit to Denmark just days before after the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had declined Trump's offer to buy Greenland, saying that the island is not for sale.

## Public Statements

US vice president J.D. Vance, in a February 2, 2025, interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, stated that Denmark was "not being a good ally" and declared that "the U.S. does not care what the EU screams at them" regarding Greenland.
In the same interview, J.D. Vance falsely claimed that 55,000 citizens of Greenland want to be part of the U.S. However, a recent poll indicated that only six percent of Greenland's population supports the idea of joining the United States.
On January 7, 2025, President-elect Donald Trump stated that he was not ruling out military action to take control of Greenland, emphasizing its strategic importance to the United States but without providing specific details.

## Resident diplomatic missions

* Denmark has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and has consulates-general in Chicago, Houston, New York City and Palo Alto. In March 2023, it was announced that Prince Joachim of Denmark would be moving to Washington to take up the role of defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy from September 2023.
* United States has an embassy in Copenhagen and has a consulate-general Nuuk, Greenland.
* Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C.
* Embassy of the United States in Copenhagen

## Trade balance

The following chart shows dollar figures from the US Census Bureau's Trade in Goods page. In positive columns, the US exported less than it imported.