General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCanada and Denmark have fought a brutal territorial war for over 50 years.
And by brutal I mean they took turns planting their flag and leaving a bottle of booze for the other guys.
It was only resolved in 2022.
They could have used a seasoned diplomat like Trump to settle this years ago.
from wiki:
The Whisky War, also known as the Liquor Wars,[1] was a bloodless war and border dispute between the Kingdom of Denmark and Canada over Hans Island. Between 1973 and 2022, the island was under dispute between the two nations, although never amounting to direct conflict or violence.
In 1984, Canadian soldiers visited the island and planted a Canadian flag, also leaving a bottle of Canadian whisky.[10] The Danish Minister of Greenland Affairs came to the island himself later the same year with the Danish flag, a bottle of Schnapps, and a letter stating "Welcome to the Danish Island" (Velkommen til den danske ø).[11][12][13] The two countries proceeded to take turns planting their flags on the island and exchanging alcoholic beverages.[14] In 2005 a Canadian man and an unknown source on the Danish side also posted advertisements on Google to "promote their claims".[14][15][16]
The minor border dispute was often considered humorous between the two nations, with diplomats displaying good humour. Despite the serious official nature of the matter, the manner in which the conflict was prosecuted was light-hearted, demonstrated by the length of time taken to settle the dispute, if nothing else. Both nations are on friendly terms, and are also founding members of NATO.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War
dsc
(52,774 posts)they didn't want any territorial disputes between NATO countries.
The ministers said that reaching an agreement involved talks by both countries with Inuit who live on both sides of the border and who know the island as Tartupaluk. Mr. Kofod said that the agreement protects their cross-border hunting and fishing rights and also ensures that the new boundary will not hinder travel across Hans Island.
Given that Canada and Denmark are longtime allies and enjoy friendly relations, why did it take so long to reach a deal?
Part of the answer, Professor Byers said, is the slow pace of the United Nations processes for settling marine boundary issues that are governed by the 1982 Law of the Sea Treaty.
But he also noted that highly publicized drop offs of liquor by troops from both countries have typically preceded elections, suggesting that some governments found political value in dragging out the dispute.
It was simply a way of stirring up a little bit of patriotic sentiment in a completely no risk context, Professor Byers said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/world/canada/hans-island-ownership-canada-denmark.html
BobTheSubgenius
(11,847 posts)although in Denmark, they might be called Ottawas...but I doubt it. In any case, they are f'ing amazing!
slightlv
(4,697 posts)bloodless with lots of alcohol!
IronLionZion
(47,362 posts)one doesn't want to bleed while drunk
slightlv
(4,697 posts)"What if they gave a war and nobody came?" from back in the 60's and 70's going through my head this whole message (LOL). Seems like this would be one war people would show up for -- just to grab hold of the alcohol. But it's not exactly great drinking in the cold, to be sure!
JoseBalow
(6,283 posts)moniss
(6,414 posts)I think it was brilliant and made me smile.
slightlv
(4,697 posts)Was something written on a marble in your head but it just wouldn't roll to be readable? That's where I am... can u explain? (Sheepish gryn)
moniss
(6,414 posts)completely different..............
yorkster
(2,657 posts)Danish distillation is a play on what is being so literally shown.
Took me a bit as well.
MadameButterfly
(2,300 posts)I'm waiting
IronLionZion
(47,362 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(7,038 posts)Martin68
(24,887 posts)eggplant
(4,020 posts)Or maybe this is why he wants Canada to become a US state? To drop the price of Greenland by 50%?
moniss
(6,414 posts)convince the Danes as to what levels of horror the Canadians are willing to invoke they could have left a dish of poutine and a bottle of Labatt Blue.
Evolve Dammit
(19,720 posts)MadameButterfly
(2,300 posts)this kind of humour
Skittles
(161,403 posts)yes indeed
Bernardo de La Paz
(52,232 posts)A couple dozen bottles are now just empty shells of their former selves.
Archae
(46,976 posts)From "Rocky and Bullwinkle," the island that kept getting shoved back and forth because nobody wanted it.
Polybius
(19,008 posts)Hope22
(3,415 posts)Needed a chuckle!😁💗