Missing Danish flags spark further outrage after Trump's NATO comments
Source: msn/MeidasTouch News
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The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen caused outrage Tuesday by removing 44 Danish flags from planter boxes outside which were placed by citizens to honor the 44 Danish troops who died fighting in Afghanistan. The timing is particularly insensitive given Donald Trump's comments last week that NATO troops "stayed a little back, little off the front lines," during the Afghanistan war, the only time in history NATO Article 5 was invoked calling for other countries to come to the aid of the U.S. after the 9/11 terror attacks.
Over a thousand troops from NATO nations died in that conflict. Denmark had the most per-capita troop deaths of any nation. Trump has also frayed U.S./Denmark relations to a breaking point with his push to annex the Danish territory of Greenland by military force if necessary.
Danish veterans groups reacted with stunned outrage at the flag removal. "This was an unnecessary action, which has been perceived as a provocation by many Danes," said Carsten Rasmussen, chairman of the Danish Veteran Association. Locals responded by placing hundreds of new Danish flags outside the U.S. Embassy.
The State Department responded that there was no malicious intent in the removal of the flags, and that it is standard for embassy staff to remove any flags or decoration placed in front of the embassy after a period of time. "Additional flags subsequently placed are currently in place and will remain so," said an embassy spokesperson.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/international-relations/outrage-in-denmark-as-us-embassy-removes-44-danish-flags-placed-to-honor-troop-deaths-in-afghanistan/ar-AA1VfwKg
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