Over 40,000 likes: Danish veteran speaks from over American rhetoric in letter

When Vance spoke again on Thursday, he reiterated that he does not buy the arguments that Denmark and the United States have been close allies since the end of World War II.

"Just because you did something smart 25 years ago, it doesn't mean you can't do something stupid now," the vice president said in an interview with Fox News.

It is not the political debate about Greenland that has prompted Henrik Bager to speak out, but rather the rhetoric that stirs strong emotions in the Danish war veteran. He is both disappointed, angry, and saddened by it.

> Imagine sitting as a mother or a father and receiving the message that

> Denmark is a bad ally. That must hurt deeply,

> Henrik Bager

"It's harsh rhetoric to use towards someone you've fought alongside in regular war," he says.

"That's what hurts."

Henrik Bager cannot remember a time when NATO allies have directly called each other "bad" allies.

For when a NATO member has given a pledge based on the musketeer's oath, they also uphold their agreement and respect each other. It's almost like a part of the job description, as Henrik Bager calls it.

Also for this reason, he calls the American rhetoric disrespectful. Even towards the families who have sent their sons and daughters to war.

"Imagine sitting as a mother or a father and receiving the message that Denmark is a bad ally. That must hurt deeply, says he to P1 Morgen (https://www.dr.dk/lyd/p1/p1-morgen/p1-morgen-2026/loerdag-10-januar-2026-11802633026 )."

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Extract translated into English

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"When the United States calls Denmark a bad ally today, it feels like a slap in the face to us, who were actually there.

After 9/11, Denmark did not hesitate.

We did not debate election issues.

We did not try to calculate politics.

We put on our uniforms.

We said goodbye to our families.

We kissed our children goodbye and hoped to see them again."

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Fighting for 'the man by your side'

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Henrik Bager has received positive acknowledgments that other veterans and family members can recognize his feelings. He also keeps an eye on the comment section, which has "exploded" since Rufus Giffords shared the letter.

Here he sees many American veterans who are also affected by the rhetoric from the top of American politics.

It is not his impression that the American veterans see Denmark as a bad ally.

- They understand what is being written. They are sitting almost with the same feeling and support each other, says Henrik Bager to P1 Morgen.

Henrik Bager and the American soldiers have something in common, that they went to Afghanistan and Iraq to fight for peace and democracy.

But according to Bager, the great ideological foundation and the fact that one is out to help NATO is somewhat forgotten when one is deployed.

- So you fight for the man by your side, the one you are on patrol with. Because you are in an extreme situation, he says.

Therefore, he also concludes the letter in this way:

A soldier never forgets who was by his side. Nations should not either.

You can hear the entire interview in P1 Morgen here:

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.