The US Embassy in Copenhagen has removed a flag honoring soldiers killed in Afghanistan from an area outside the building, angering Danish veterans.
A video shared by Danish outlet TV2 showed security guards removing a flag honoring 44 Danish soldiers who died in the conflict from a planter outside the embassy on Tuesday.
The Danish Veterans Association condemned the move as “unnecessary and insensitive” in a statement on social media on Wednesday. Carsten Rasmussen, the association’s national president, said he understood the angry reaction but called for a measured response. “When they go down, we go up high, and we respond calmly, with dignity and with compassion,” he said.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told CNN that the flag’s placement was not coordinated with U.S. embassy officials in Copenhagen and that the embassy was not aware of the flag’s significance.
The spokesperson added that while the installation of such items is not generally prohibited, flags, banners and signs are often removed by security staff at the end of their shift “as a general rule”.
“Additional flags that have since been installed are currently in place and will continue to be in place,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen told Danish broadcaster TV 2 that there was “no malicious intent in removing the flag.” The spokesperson added that the embassy has deep respect for Danish veterans and those who have contributed to our common security, TV2 reported.
The Danes responded by planting hundreds of flags in front of the American embassy, according to a video shared by TV2.
The latest diplomatic spat between the two countries comes after President Donald Trump infuriated NATO allies over the weekend by baselessly claiming that allied forces were “staying a little further back” from the front lines in Afghanistan.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a social media post Sunday that President Trump’s comments were “unbearable,” adding that Denmark has one of the highest per capita losses compared to NATO allies.
Relations between Copenhagen and Washington have deteriorated in recent weeks after President Trump renewed his call to annex the vast Arctic territory of Greenland, which is ruled by Denmark.
Tensions reached a fever pitch last weekend when President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European countries. He withdrew his threat after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who announced they had reached a “framework” for a future agreement on the island.
Details of the framework have not yet been disclosed, but President Trump’s hostile stance and unpredictability have unsettled Denmark, Greenland and European allies.
CNN’s Kim Norgaard contributed to this report.
