Denmark will allow US troops to be stationed on its soil, according to a deal announced by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen that marks a significant shift in Danish defence policy but mirrors similar agreements signed by neighbouring Norway, Sweden and Finland.
On Tuesday, Denmark followed Sweden and other neighbouring countries in hosting US soldiers on Danish soil. Social Democrat leader and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a defence agreement at a press conference with Liberal Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
“We live in violent times with many forces challenging our democracy and the democratic rules of the game,” Frederiksen said to justify the agreement with the US.
The agreement represents a major change in Danish defence policy, Frederiksen said, noting that the US military will be able to be permanently stationed at three air bases in the country.
“This is true for both shorter and longer periods,” she said, adding that in this way, Denmark strengthens US access to Europe and the Baltic Sea and contributes to NATO’s collective defence of Europe, which is a core task for both NATO and Denmark – a NATO member, which like Norway, has been a member since the military alliance was formed in 1949.
However, it is unclear how many soldiers will be deployed in the country, with Frederiksen saying, “We have not yet decided how many will be involved.”
However, Denmark’s shift in military policy does not come as the biggest surprise, as its Nordic neighbours have slowly been doing the same.
While Sweden signed a defence cooperation agreement earlier this month giving the US access and permission to use parts of 17 Swedish military bases, facilities and training areas, NATO’s newest member and Russia’s neighbour, Finland, signed its own agreement with the US on Monday giving it access to 15 military facilities.
However, the Danish coalition government insisted that the agreement did not change Denmark’s position, confirming that there would be no nuclear weapons on its soil.
“All activities will be coordinated with Danish defence and in accordance with law and sovereignty,” said Poulsen.
While the agreement does not cover Greenland or the Faroe Islands, which are largely self-governing parts of Denmark, it still needs to be approved by parliament, which the government estimates could take “a year”.
(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)
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