Comment by Svip | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Svip | Hacker News Reader

Despite the Faroese people's issue with Denmark, it cannot be denied that the Faroese Islands (and Greenland for that matter) are heavy reliant on Denmark. As the article mentions, most of the islands' infrastructure comes courtesy of Denmark.

While calls for independence are far louder on Greenland than on the Faroese Islands, there is nonetheless a sense dislike for Denmark both places. Although, it seems the Faroese politicians recognises that independence would not be a good move for them.

And before people say, hey, it worked out for Iceland pretty well; Iceland has several advantages to it that made that possible: Far easier geography than the Faroese Islands or Greenland. Far more people (300,000 vs 50,000 today). And during the Second World War, when it happened, the US was also helping Iceland with the money to maintain some livelihood.

I doubt the US will help Greenland or the Faroese Islands in that endeavour today. The US already got Thule Airbase.

Can you point out to me where in the article it states that most of the infrastructure comes from Denmark? All I found was an example of a boat that had been built in Denmark and bought from Spain.

The huge subsidy you're talking about accounts for about 3% of the annual Faroese GDP. It's gone down from 11.2% since 2000.

From my perspective, it seems like most Danish people have a very uneducated perspective of the Faroese dependence.

The Faroe Islands have to be dependent on someone because they’re certainly not capable of defending themselves. That someone could be the EU if it had a credible collective military deterrent but it doesn’t and it’s not acquiring one any time soon.

Unless war never returns to Europe in which case I worry needlessly.

That's funny. I seem to recall from history classes that it was the British that came to the Faroe Island's defense on a previous historic occasion. (For obvious strategic reasons to do with the geographic location in the North Atlantic.) What did the Danish do on that occasion, I wonder? That's right, they surrendered to the Germans. (Understandably, I might add.)

Look, the Faroe Islands do get a lot out of being so intimately tied to to Denmark, but let's not oversell it, OK?

The British weren't defending the Faroes, they were defending themselves.

It's just a question of "someone's going to take it, so we should take it first".. similar to the british and subsequent american occupation of Iceland.

Well, duh. Point remains that Denmark was completely incapable of defending the Faroes and thus a "union" with Denmark is completely absurd if you're going to argue it from a defense perspective (as the OP did).

The Danes couldn’t defend themselves so the Germans took over. The Faroe Islands couldn’t defend themselves so the. Ritual took over. The Icelanders couldn’t defend themselves so the Americans took over. If you can’t defend yourself you’re as sovereign as the powers who could conquer you allow you to be.

> they’re certainly not capable of defending themselves

This is true of most countries in the Caribbean, but being close to a big, heavily armed, friendly world power (as the Faroes are to the UK) is usually sufficient.

While it is true, that today the subsidy from Denmark is minor relative to Faroese GDP, to a point where one might wonder why they need the money at all? (Besides, I don't think I made any actual specific references to that subsidy.)

The infrastructure, I am referring to, was built several decades ago (with the exception of some newer additions that was built by the Faroese themselves, like the Norðoyatunnilin), at a time where the Faroese GDP was much lower.

In particular, Denmark had to bail out the Faroese Islands during their financial crisis from 1989 to 1995, through loans.

When I say 'reliant' on Denmark, I don't mean in direct financial terms. I mean in terms of foreign, military and judicial dependence. In 2005, Denmark gave the Faroese government permission to establish Faroese missions within Danish embassies. That's a huge advantage to them, being able to use existing Danish infrastructure for their foreign endeavours.

Indeed, the agreement of 2005, the so-called "Fámjin Declaration", has practically eased tensions between Denmark and the Faroese Islands, and calls for independence gets very little press time any more.

And lastly, the subsidy you refer to is just the subsidy in direct cash from the Danish government, there are several other ways Denmark supports the Faroese, both nationally and internationally, which value would probably be far larger than the subsidy itself. To summarise; it is an advantage for the Faroese Islands to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

And it's an advantage to Denmark to have them. So mutually beneficial, no?

I personally think so. I hope other Danes think so. I may joke occasionally about the Faroese Islands and Greenland, but in reality, I hope they stay part of the Kingdom of Denmark, because it's a mutual beneficial arrangement.

I traveled with two 18 year old danes last spring and they were complaining about Iceland being such a drag on Denmark. When I told them Iceland was independent and they must be talking about Faroe Islands they were told me both were part of Denmark. With the ridiculous low amount of data points I think danish education on these matters is lacking.

Greenland perhaps?

This sounds like any number of conversations with ill-informed voters around the world. I suppose we’re all under-informed on topics but I try to shut up about it when I am.

Iceland got the MOST amount of Marshall plan monies per capita than ANY other country in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan#cite_note-97

The military base that left in 1992 also employed many many icelanders and brought cheap goods and high salaries to the country.

The US has been making noise about re-opening an Airbase in Greenland lately however.

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