Have you ever heard about the “Whisky War” between Canada and Denmark? That was probably the most surreal but also the most humorous war that has ever been fought. At least one commentator has called the dispute the “Friendliest War.”
For almost 50 years,, the countries had been “fighting” the “Whisky War ” also known as the Liquor Wars to settle competing claims over Hans Island – an uninhabitable and only half-a-square-mile wide chunk of land between Greenland and Canada.
In 1984, Canadian soldiers “provoked” Denmark by planting Canadian flag on the island and leaving a bottle of whisky. The same year, the Danish Minister of Greenland Affairs came to the island with the Danish flag, a bottle of Scandinavian aquavit, and a letter stating “Welcome to the Danish Island” The two countries proceeded to take turns planting their flags on the island and exchanging alcoholic beverages. The flags were folded properly and respectfully. There have also been Google ads used to “promote their claims”.
On June 10, 2022, the conflict was resolved and the Canadian and Danish governments signed a deal splitting Hans Island between the two countries.
