Denmark has announced the "immediate" purchase of equipment to monitor underwater critical infrastructure and the acquisition of several hundred naval mines, the government said on Sunday.
The move comes as Copenhagen boosts its defense capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic and the Baltic region.
The Danish Ministry of Defense also launched a drone technology development program earlier this week, with Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen inaugurating a military drone facility at Odense airport on the island of Funen.
In addition to these measures, Denmark plans to acquire 21 patrol vessels for its navy and four specialized ships for environmental protection. A decision regarding the construction of new frigates will be made following the anticipated approval of a new NATO defense plan at the Alliance summit in The Hague in June.
Denmark’s strategic position is critical, as its territorial waters include the straits connecting the Baltic Sea with the North Sea.
Denmark also holds defense responsibilities in the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Arctic due to its governance of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The defense investments come amid criticism from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who accused Denmark of neglecting military spending in strategically significant Greenland. During a visit to the U.S. Space Force base in Pituffik, Greenland, on Friday,
Vance suggested that Greenland should be protected by the U.S. instead of Denmark.
His remarks sparked a firm response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who dismissed the accusations as "unfair" and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment as a "loyal NATO ally of the U.S."
In mid-February, Denmark announced an additional allocation of 50 billion kroner (€6.7 billion) for defense investments in 2025-26, raising its military expenditure to more than 3% of GDP.
Frederiksen will visit Greenland on April 2-4 for talks with the semi-autonomous territory’s new government, she said on Saturday, amid U.S. interest in taking control of the Arctic island.
The Danish Ministry of Defense also launched a drone technology development program earlier this week, with Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen inaugurating a military drone facility at Odense airport on the island of Funen.
In addition to these measures, Denmark plans to acquire 21 patrol vessels for its navy and four specialized ships for environmental protection. A decision regarding the construction of new frigates will be made following the anticipated approval of a new NATO defense plan at the Alliance summit in The Hague in June.
Denmark’s strategic position is critical, as its territorial waters include the straits connecting the Baltic Sea with the North Sea.
Denmark also holds defense responsibilities in the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Arctic due to its governance of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The defense investments come amid criticism from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who accused Denmark of neglecting military spending in strategically significant Greenland. During a visit to the U.S. Space Force base in Pituffik, Greenland, on Friday,
Vance suggested that Greenland should be protected by the U.S. instead of Denmark.
His remarks sparked a firm response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who dismissed the accusations as "unfair" and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment as a "loyal NATO ally of the U.S."
In mid-February, Denmark announced an additional allocation of 50 billion kroner (€6.7 billion) for defense investments in 2025-26, raising its military expenditure to more than 3% of GDP.
Frederiksen will visit Greenland on April 2-4 for talks with the semi-autonomous territory’s new government, she said on Saturday, amid U.S. interest in taking control of the Arctic island.
More In Politics MORE...
