I will not use military force - Greenland crisis cools

Last Week in Denmark (18.01-25.01) Episode 2 Year 6

TOP 3 News

1. First steps towards de-escalation of the conflict with the US

2. Rent out your home like a hotel and it can now cost you up to 100,000 DKK, as government cracks down on illegal Airbnb rentals

3. People are downloading apps to avoid US products, less to hit American companies and more to vent frustration over US politics and Greenland

Want to dig deeper into the latest news? Check out the Last Week in Denmark podcast. New episodes drop on all podcast apps and YouTube every Wednesday. Follow us now so you don’t miss it.

Remember to check out our New Reporting in International Community HQ, further down the newsletter. These are original articles in English by our own Last Week in Denmark reporters.

Editor HQ

State of Denmark (the kingdom)

“We will be there for you,” French Ambassador in Denmark

Twenty-five days into 2026, and the direction of the world is already clear. Across the globe, countries are investing heavily in military power, weapons, training, and defence capacity, and there is no sign of that trend slowing down. Security has become non-negotiable. As large states increasingly behave like bullies toward smaller ones, the logic of deterrence takes over, and the demand for force that can match force grows stronger. This is not ideology. It is the reality that states respond to when the rules feel less clear than they once did.

The price of this shift is high. Expanding military capacity means fewer resources for welfare systems that were built to support education, healthcare, and individual opportunity. The long period of relative peace that allowed societies to focus on social and technological progress is ending, and we are entering a different era. Some will call it a new Cold War. Others will argue that history does not repeat itself so neatly. What matters more is the shared feeling that the ground is moving. Tension has been building for years, and history reminds us that such pressure rarely dissolves by itself.

Should we be afraid in these times? NO. Fear has never been a useful long-term strategy, and as individuals there is very little we can do to influence the decisions being made far above our heads. A small number of people will always shape the fate of millions. Power has a habit of breeding boredom, and boredom often seeks impact. That does not mean collapse is inevitable. It means reality changes, and humans adapt. If there is one thing we are exceptionally good at, it is adjusting to new circumstances, even uncomfortable ones.

So live your life. Do not pause it in anticipation of disaster. If something truly disruptive happens, you will have time to choose how you respond and what role you want to play. Preparing is not a bad idea, but preparation should come from curiosity, not fear. Learn skills. Build resilience. Not because you are scared of the future, but because change can also bring a break from monotony and a chance to redefine purpose.

What you can do right now is simple. Be kind, especially to American and Greenlandic people around you. Being associated with an enemy state has never ended well anywhere in history, and living with the idea that your homeland could be occupied creates real anxiety. Small gestures matter more than statements. Invite people over. Have conversations. Show that care wins over politics.

And to our American readers: Wherever you come from, you are now internationals living in Denmark. One of us. What your former country does does not define who you are, and you owe no one an apology for it. Belonging is built through everyday life, not passports. And if history forces a choice, people choose the place where they are trusted and included. Here, you are.

Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!

📼 Why everyone is suddenly nostalgic for 2016. Researchers say the wave of throwbacks is less about filters and pop songs and more about frustration with today’s algorithm-driven platforms, where memes feel commercialized, attention is exploited, and the sense of shared online community has largely disappeared.

Image of the week

Green and purple northern lights lit up the sky night after night, a rare sight even for people who spend years watching the weather. The reason sits far beyond Denmark, as intense solar activity pushes charged particles straight into Earth’s atmosphere, turning the darkness into something spectacular. It felt like a reminder that while geopolitics dominates the news, the planet and the universe still move on their own terms, occasionally offering a moment of shared awe to anyone willing to look up.

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Danish Politics HQ

Political scene

🏛️ New EU-critical think tank launches amid US pressure on Europe. Under the name Heimdal, the think tank argues that EU rules and bureaucracy have gone too far and hold Europe back. Its chair says the timing is right and stresses the goal is not to leave the EU, but to slim it down and strengthen Europe’s economy and defense. Critics say the launch comes at the worst possible moment, as Europe faces external pressure from Trump and growing geopolitical tension.

🛡️ DF (Nationalist Conservative) wants to pause defense deal with the US over Greenland pressure. The party argues the deal, which allows US troops and equipment at bases in Aalborg, Karup and Skydstrup, cannot continue as is, if Denmark is being threatened. DF wants to see parts of it renegotiated, including the rule that makes it unbreakable for ten years. The government and several other parties reject the idea, saying the agreement strengthens security and should not be mixed with current political tensions.

🎙️ Expert voices stay narrowly defined. A new review of media citations in 2025 shows that the most quoted experts are still overwhelmingly Danish men aged 50 to 60, with only three women making it onto the top-50 list and none from minority backgrounds. The findings suggest that despite a changing society and news agenda, the pool of voices shaping public debate in the media remains strikingly narrow.

The latest on Greenland

• Denmark moved from signalling to real military readiness. Danish troops were deployed to Greenland with live ammunition, under the NATO exercise “Arctic Endurance,” marking the first time the situation shifted from diplomatic tension to concrete defense posture.

• European allies physically backed Denmark and Greenland. Multiple NATO countries sent ships, aircraft and troops to Greenland, showing this was no longer a bilateral issue but a collective European security concern.

• Donald Trump took military force and tariffs off the table. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump explicitly ruled out military action and suspended planned tariffs, lowering immediate escalation risks.

• NATO diplomacy opened a fragile de-escalation track. After talks between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a vague “framework” for Arctic security was announced, without any agreed details or signatures.

• Denmark and Greenland publicly restated their red lines. Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic representatives made clear that sovereignty is non-negotiable and NATO has no mandate to negotiate on their behalf.

• The EU closed ranks politically and economically. European Union leaders backed Denmark and Greenland unanimously and the European Parliament froze work on a major EU–US trade agreement until US threats stop.

• The crisis spread beyond politics into society and markets. Large public demonstrations showed civil mobilisation, while Nordic pension funds reduced exposure to US debt, reflecting growing economic unease.

💡Volunteer call for Danish speakers. AMIS is looking for Danish teachers or fluent Danish speakers to help run a series of online Zoom workshops on job interviews in Danish for Ukrainian refugees in Denmark. You’ll help guide participants through self-introductions, common interview questions and Danish workplace culture. We handle the tech and provide the materials, with three flexible sessions on February 12, 19 and 26, from 15:45 to 17:45, and a time commitment of just one to two hours per session. If you want to make a concrete difference, email projects1@aalborgid.com (Lelde)

👉 Read our article: our reporter Christian Green has been speaking to Greenlanders this week about their feelings and perspectives on the evolving situation.

Danish Economics HQ

Our money

🛒 Apps that help shoppers avoid US products are climbing the download charts, driven by anger over US politics and talk about Greenland. Tools like UdenUSA let people scan items and choose alternatives, even though only around 1% of food sold here actually comes directly from the US and the economic impact is likely small. Experts say the trend is less about hurting American companies and more about giving people an outlet for their frustration.

👉Read our article: our reporter Laura Matheson’s story on how to shop European was one of our most read in 2025 and she’s just updated it for 2026.

🧾 Talks on a proposed food allowance will continue after Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen kicked DF (Nationalist Conservative) and Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative) out of negotiations, following disagreement over who should get help. The government wants a targeted payment for pensioners with low savings, low-income families and people outside the labor market, with 4.5 billion DKK set aside to fund this. DF maintains that prices should be lowered for everyone through reduced food VAT.

🥇 For the first time ever, Danske Bank is advising private customers to keep a small amount of gold in their investment portfolio, pointing to rising global uncertainty and market nerves after new trade threats from Trump. Gold prices have climbed as investors look for safer places to park money when politics shakes markets, even though other major banks are still holding back from clear recommendations. For ordinary savers, the message is not to rush out and buy gold bars, but to think about diversification when headlines start destabilizing stock markets.

State of the markets

🏠 Cracking down on illegal short-term rentals. A new political deal tightens the rules on short-term renting and raises fines for people who rent out homes beyond what is allowed. Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com can now be ordered to share information with authorities and even block listings or bookings in specific cases. Renting out a full-time home is still allowed for up to 70 days a year, or 100 if the municipality allows it, but fines for noncompliance will now start at 5,000 DKK and can reach 100,000 DKK. The goal is to stop homes from being turned into shadow hotels and to protect neighborhoods from constant tourist turnover.

🏭 Several companies say the constant back-and-forth from Trump is making it hard to plan, even after threats of extra tariffs on Danish goods were dropped again. Exporters explain that when rules and signals change every few days, reacting no longer makes sense. So, some are freezing investments or scaling back ambitions in the US market. For them, the problem is no longer one specific policy but the uncertainty itself, which slowly drains confidence and makes long-term decisions feel like guesswork rather than strategy.

💣 Markets may be the real brake on Trump. Analysts say the one thing that can actually stop Trump from escalating tariff threats and pressure over Greenland is not diplomacy, but financial markets pushing back. The US is carrying record debt, and investors buying American government bonds are key to keeping the system running. If trade threats, political interference in the central bank, and rising uncertainty scare investors away, borrowing costs could jump and hit the US economy hard. Economists warn this market reaction is Trump’s real weak spot, and if confidence breaks, the fallout would not stop at US borders.

💡 🥦 Why did food get more expensive? A new government analysis shows food prices are much higher than a few years ago mainly because global shocks have stacked on top of each other, first with pandemic disruptions breaking supply chains, then the war in Ukraine pushing up energy and transport costs, and extreme weather reducing harvests worldwide. Since Denmark is a small open economy, global price rises flow straight into supermarkets, which helps explain why staples like meat and coffee cost far more today than in 2022.

Entrepreneurship

You want to start a business in Denmark, but have no ideas to work with? Join the 4-workshop online course “How to find the business idea,” provided by AMIS and Aalborg Institute for Development. Across four Zoom sessions you’ll explore your skills, turn everyday problems into business ideas, understand Danish realities, and practice a simple pitch to decide your next step. Sessions take place Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11 and Feb 18 from 17:00 to 19:00. Sign up here. (the form is in Ukrainian, but access is open to everyone as the sessions will be in English).

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Daily Life in Denmark HQ

🎬 Danish talent shines at the Oscars. A Danish-produced documentary, Mr. Nobody mod Putin, has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature. It follows a Russian teacher who documents how schools change under the influence of the war in Ukraine. The film is produced by Copenhagen-based Helle Faber and directed by US filmmaker David Borenstein. Danish cinematographer Dan Laustsen also picked up his third Oscar nomination for his work on Frankenstein, while editor Olivier Bugge Coutté was nominated for a Norwegian film.

🚛 Help your bin collector avoid injuries. A new campaign from Arbejdstilsynet urges us to make waste collection safer, after reported injuries among waste workers rose by 33% since 2021. Poor lighting, slippery paths, obstacles, and bins placed far from the street are common risks, especially during dark winter mornings. The advice is simple: move bins to the curb, clear paths, add lighting, and salt when it is icy.

📚 Comics are back in the reading debate. The government has presented a new literature action plan to tackle falling reading habits among children and young people, with comics placed front and center. A new national knowledge hub called Tegneseriens Hus will be set up to support schools and libraries with methods and materials that use illustrated stories to spark reading motivation.

🥦 Fiber is having a moment. After years of protein hype, nutrition experts are now urging people to focus on eating more dietary fiber, which most people do not get enough of. Research links fiber to better gut health, steadier blood sugar, and lower risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Whole grains, vegetables, beans, lentils, fruit, and nuts are key sources. The advice is simple: start swapping refined foods for wholegrain options and increase fiber slowly to avoid stomach trouble.

🏋️ A new fitness craze is spreading fast. Hyrox, a standardized indoor competition combining running and functional strength workouts, is rapidly gaining popularity in the capital area. Experts say the appeal lies in measurable results, and a strong sense of community, making it attractive to both beginners and elite athletes. Trend researchers expect the hype to grow further, especially as Copenhagen hosts another international Hyrox race this spring, but warn that newcomers should build up gradually to avoid injuries.

🚭 Trying to break the nicotine habit at school. A new project from Sundhedsstyrelsen aims to reduce smoking, snus, and e-cigarette use among students at FGU schools, where nearly half of students use nicotine products despite smoke-free rules. Instead of focusing only on bans, the initiative promotes nicotine-free social activities and better break-time communities. The challenge is that for many students, nicotine is tied to belonging and routine, making it hard to quit even outside school hours.

👑 Your hair could end up on a king. A museum project at Nyborg Slot is asking people to donate hair and beards for lifelike figures of medieval and Renaissance monarchs ahead of the castle’s reopening in 2028. Østfyns Museer wants to use real human hair to make the royal figures as realistic as possible, and the response so far has been enthusiastic. Several kings and queens still need the right locks and beards, giving donors the chance to literally become part of history.

💘 Speed dating is back as people ditch dating apps. Events in Copenhagen are selling out fast as singles, tired of endless swiping, choose short face-to-face dates instead, with one woman finding her partner in just seven minutes. Researchers say app dating feels draining and inefficient, while speed dating lets people quickly sense real chemistry without weeks of chatting, turning what once felt awkward into a surprisingly popular way to meet someone.

💡Two offers for Ukrainians:
1. Nationwide: Join two free online courses to practice Danish job interviews and turn your Ukrainian experience into skills Danish employers understand. They’ll cover interview culture, CVs, LinkedIn, and practical job search tools. Sign up here.

2. Aalborg: A step-by-step, in-person course at Aalborg Library helps you become confident with email, e-Boks, Borger.dk and online job search in a stress-free environment. No prior experience needed. Sign up here.

International Community HQ

🤝 Boycott US products (if you wish), not Americans living in Denmark. After a year with Donald Trump back in the White House, some Americans living here say they feel a new kind of discomfort in everyday life. An American mother describes being shouted at and given the finger while visiting the US embassy in Copenhagen with her child. She understands why people are angry, but says it still hurts, especially when children are involved. The story is a reminder that political anger often lands on the wrong people, and that many Americans here are just as uneasy about the situation as everyone else.

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New reporting - original, long form reporting from our dedicated team

👉 With the world’s eyes on Greenland, our reporter Christian Green spent the week speaking to Greenlanders about their feelings and perspectives on the current political turmoil. ✍️ Christian Green 👉 Read the article.

Also this week:

👉 Want to stop Danes switching to English as soon as you start to speak? Native Danish speaker Maja Christiansen Cawthra gives some insider secrets on how to speak like a Dane.

👉 Ahmet Akkoç finds out about the role Denmark is playing in preserving Ukrainian culture.

👉 Daniel Sfita takes a plunge into Saunagus culture in Denmark.

👉 January Danish weather getting you down? John Dixon has some wise and humorous advice about surviving the winter.

👉 Daniel Sfita looks at how the new EU Talent Pool can benefit you.

👉 And our regular guest writer Sigga Hansen, founder of language school Lingua Danica, explains why handball is so important in Denmark.

Community Noticeboard

☕ International Café: How Cultures Connect (Copenhagen)

📅 Thursday January 29, 2026 | ⏰ 17:00–19:00

📍 Ørestad Library | 💸 Free (registration required)

New to Denmark or looking to expand your social circle? Join this relaxed, English-friendly café to explore how culture shapes communication, trust, and everyday life in Denmark. Meet locals and internationals, reflect on cultural differences, and connect in a welcoming space hosted by Ørestad’s International Ambassadors.

🎶 Winter Jazz Festival – 25th Anniversary (Nationwide)

📅 Late January–February 2026 | 📍 Across Denmark

Celebrating 25 years, the Winter Jazz Festival brings live jazz to cities and towns across Denmark. With hundreds of concerts nationwide, including many free events in cafés, libraries, and cultural spaces. It’s a great way to experience Danish music culture.

Check the festival website for free venues, dates and times.

🎓 School Options in Aarhus – Free Online Webinar

📅 February 18, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00–12:00 | 💻 Online (livestream)

Choosing between a Danish public school or an international school? This free webinar gives parents practical insight into school options in Aarhus, including the Folkeskole system, reception classes for non-Danish speakers, and Aarhus International School (IB). Organised by the City of Aarhus and International Community.

💸Free- registration required. Recording available after the event.

👶ParentLab Stroller Sessions – Free Baby-Friendly Walk (Copenhagen)

📅 Wednesdays | ⏰ 10:00–11:30 | 📍Kongens Have | 💸 Free
Looking to connect with other parents in Copenhagen? Join this relaxed stroller walk for English-speaking parents on leave who want to get outside and talk about something other than sleep schedules. Walk at stroller pace and enjoy easy conversation in a low-pressure, baby-welcome setting hosted by ParentLab.

Immigrant Grief: Carrying Loss Across Countries (Copenhagen)

27 January 2026 | 17:30–20:00 | Copenhagen
A free, English-language workshop exploring migratory grief — the sense of loss that can come with living far from home. Led by psychologist Pola Koba, the session offers reflection, practical tools, and a supportive space for internationals and others with migration experience. Free, but registration required. Limited places.

➕ Hosting something relevant to internationals in Denmark? Send it to us at noticeboard@lwid.dk

Denmark in Global Headlines

🌍 “Greenland’s tragedy as the dream of independence risks becoming a trap laid by Donald Trump” – The Guardian

🛑 “‘Europe won’t be blackmailed,’ Danish PM says after Trump’s Greenland threats” – BBC

🗳️ “Petition urging Denmark to buy California tops 280,000 signatures” – The London Economic

✊ “Protesters rally in Denmark and Greenland against Trump annexation threat” – Reuters

🚦 “Denmark is turning its streetlights red and the reason will surprise you” – The Times of India