GuShiio.com ① Denmark, which “had polar bears before it and bald eagles after it”, is now having to significantly increase military spending…
② According to a new plan released on Wednesday, Denmark’s current annual defense budget of US$5 billion will receive an additional US$7 billion over two years;
③ This would make the country the first European country outside Poland and the Baltic States to commit to spending more than 3% of GDP on military expenditures.
Cailian News, February 20 (Editor Xiaoxiang)With the peace talks between the United States and Russia on the Ukraine conflict, Europe’s sense of insecurity is increasing day by day. At the same time, the United States, as a NATO ally, is increasingly salivating over Greenland. Denmark, which “had polar bears before it and bald eagles after it”, is now having to significantly increase military spending…
Denmark’s current $5 billion annual defense budget will receive an additional $7 billion over two years, according to a new plan released Wednesday, making it the first European country outside Poland and the Baltic states to commit more than 3% of GDP to military spending.The Danish government will also issue exemptions and restructure the Ministry of Defense to purchase weapons and equipment more quickly.
Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including Denmark, have committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defense. U.S. President Trump previously stated that this level should be as high as 5%. The figure announced on Wednesday would bring Denmark’s defense spending to 3.2% of GDP, which is actually close to the level of the United States in terms of proportions. NATO previously said that U.S. defense spending last year accounted for almost 3.4% of GDP.
Danish Prime Minister Mite Fredericksen said Denmark is eager to strengthen its military forces to defend itself and avoid war under Russian threats.
“If we can’t buy the best equipment, we’ll buy the second best. There is only one thing that is most important, and that is speed, buy, buy.” She said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Frederickson threatened last month that she expected Denmark’s long-term defense budget to be “close” to 5% of GDP given the heightened security risks.
“There is Russia in front, and there is beauty in the back”
Denmark’s latest plan comes after U.S. President Trump asked European members of the NATO group to contribute more to the defense of the continent, while U.S. officials are currently holding talks with Russia on the conflict in Ukraine.
Denmark fears that a hasty ceasefire could strengthen Russia’s power and that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be more daring to confront NATO if he believes it is weakened or divided.
After holding emergency talks with other European leaders on Monday, Frederickson warned that the actual situation of a ceasefire in Ukraine may not be as good as it sounds and could put Europe “in a more dangerous situation.”
In an updated threat assessment on February 9, the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency warned that if Russia can release the resources currently used in the war against Ukraine, it will pose a “credible threat to one or more NATO countries” within two years.–Especially if Russia believes that the United States cannot or will not support European NATO countries. The report also added that this prerequisite is that NATO countries will not further increase military investment.
Denmark is one of the European countries that supports relaxing EU budget rules to allow member states to increase defense investment. Denmark’s narrow strait is an important trade artery for Russia’s oil exports through the Baltic Sea. The Danish prime minister also said she was willing to use tools such as joint lending. This is a significant change in attitude for Denmark, which has traditionally advocated frugality in military spending.
In addition to the potential threat from Russia, Denmark is obviously also worried about being “stabbed in the back” by its traditional ally, the United States.
After Trump expressed his intention to take over Greenland from Denmark, Denmark’s situation has actually been very awkward. The Danish government has agreed to increase investment in Arctic island defense, and Trump has said Copenhagen lacks defense capabilities to defend the world’s largest island, Greenland.
Last month, Denmark said it would spend US$1.9 billion to improve Greenland’s defense capabilities. Frederickson also expressed his willingness to allow the United States to strengthen its presence in Greenland.
Military experts and government officials said that the long-term drawdown of the domestic military means Denmark has no air defense capabilities and has major flaws in its naval capabilities.
Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen said in an interview with the media that “the security situation in Europe requires rapid political action, and Denmark is taking such action today.”
