The US Embassy in Copenhagen removed 44 Danish flags placed to honour the 44 Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan, prompting anger from veterans and politicians. The State Department said the embassy did not know why the flags had been placed and that they were removed under routine policy for items left near the mission. After public backlash, new flags were reinstated and hundreds more were added; the Danish Veteran Association plans a silent march on Saturday.
US Embassy In Copenhagen Sparks Outrage After Removing Flags Honouring Fallen Danish Soldiers
Danish flags were placed in front of the US embassy in Copenhagen after US President Donald Trump downplayed the role of NATO troops in Afghanistan (Emil Nicolai Helms)(Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP)
Danish veterans and politicians condemned the US Embassy in Copenhagen after staff removed a display of Danish flags placed outside the mission to honour troops killed in Afghanistan. The episode, which played out publicly after video footage circulated on Danish media, underscored growing tension following comments by US President Donald Trump about NATO allies' roles in the war.
The flags—44 in total—bore the names of the 44 Danish soldiers who died in Afghanistan. They were placed in flowerbeds outside the embassy on Tuesday in response to remarks by President Trump suggesting some NATO forces "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," comments that many partners and veterans found dismissive of their sacrifice.
Video published by Danish outlets showed embassy staff removing the flags on Wednesday morning. The embassy initially told local media the items had been removed because they were placed without prior coordination. In a statement to AFP the US State Department said it was "unaware of why the flags were placed in planters outside the Embassy" until contacted by a news outlet, and noted that "flags, banners, signs, and other items are sometimes left near the embassy" after demonstrations and are typically cleared away by guard staff at the end of their shift.
"The flags placed on Tuesday were removed in accordance with this policy," the embassy said in its statement to AFP.
The removal prompted swift backlash. Carsten Rasmussen, chairman of the Danish Veteran Association, called the action "an unnecessary action" that many Danes perceived as a provocation and said veterans viewed Mr. Trump's remarks as "a betrayal" of their fallen comrades. Jens-Kristian Lutken, a Copenhagen city official for the Liberal Party (Venstre), described both the embassy's action and the questioning of Danish efforts in Afghanistan as "completely unacceptable," noting Denmark's shared sacrifices alongside US forces.
After the public outcry, new flags were placed outside the embassy. By Wednesday afternoon, TV2 reported that hundreds of small Danish flags had been added to the flowerbeds. The embassy told AFP that the additional flags "are currently in place and will remain so." The Danish Veteran Association has announced a silent march to the embassy on Saturday to protest the removal and to honour the fallen.
This incident highlights the sensitivities around commemorations of military sacrifice and the diplomatic risks of actions perceived as dismissive by partner nations. The embassy's explanation that the removal was routine did not quell concerns among veterans and some politicians, who say the gesture was intended as a solemn tribute rather than a protest item to be cleared away.
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