Just three weeks ago, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stood in Marienborg Castle and spoke about the security commitment to Ukraine regarding financial support for the next ten years. Today, the government briefed Danish parliamentary parties at an early morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. on what would be presented at this morning's press conference. (See the key points below.)
Last night, TV2 was able to reveal that the government will reopen the defense settlement file and add 40 billion Danish kroner to the file. An additional 155 billion dollars has already been allocated to the Ministry of Defense in the 10-year defense settlement reached last summer. The funds will be used to strengthen the army's combat power, especially for what is known as the First Brigade. In addition, the government plans to extend compulsory conscription to 11 months instead of the current 4 months, while increasing the number of conscripts from the current number of about 4,700 to 5,000.
With the additional billions the government wants to add to the armed forces, Denmark ends up spending 2% of GDP, a NATO requirement. The method of calculation has been criticized from several quarters, but with the new contribution, Denmark will reach 2% of GDP – excluding donations from Ukraine as well.
“Ukraine’s donations have left empty shelves in the barracks.”
The multi-billion dollar defense budget comes after lengthy criticism, also voiced on Tuesday by the defense establishment itself, that its equipment has never been replaced since donating military hardware to Ukraine. This has resulted in empty shelves in barracks warehouses, and according to the armed forces, the equipment shortage weakens the combat capabilities of the armed forces and makes it difficult to maintain soldiers who lack the equipment to train with.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged that the criticism was justified, but said at the same time that acquiring new military equipment would take a long time.
During the press conference, Mette Frederiksen said: “NATO is asking us to provide a first brigade of up to 6,000 troops, and we must be able to defend ourselves against air attacks to a greater extent. We also need to upgrade at a faster rate.” According to her, Denmark will already surpass 2% this year. These are some of the key points from Wednesday morning’s press conference:
- The government plans to draft legislation on extending compulsory military service in 2025, so that it comes into effect from 2026.
- Currently, 4,700 young men are volunteering for military service, for a period of four months in most cases. However, according to the Prime Minister, there is almost no time to get to know each other and certainly not enough time to learn what is necessary to contribute to NATO's operational missions.
- The government believes that compulsory military service should be extended to 11 months.
- The government also wants to introduce full gender equality.
- Currently, women can join the military, but they are not obligated to do so, and the government believes that needs to change.
- Mette Frederiksen said this would also help modernize the armed forces.
- She also stated regarding the source of funding: “It is clear that if we have to spend more money on defense – and I personally believe that we will – we will lower the priority for other things. The package that the government is proposing today can be financed through our general economic policy, because the Danish economy is very strong and we have a low public debt, but it is clear that we cannot continue to do that.“.
- Supporting the defense settlement so that it eventually reaches 190 billion kronor, including the defense settlement for the next ten years, which was reached this summer.
- There is no indication at present that there is a threat to Denmark, but the situation is serious and will remain so for a long time, according to the Prime Minister.
- She added: Denmark has been lagging behind for too long. We have spent money on climate and social welfare, while the United States and others have continued to invest in defending them.
- She adds: We have benefited from that, but Denmark should not be a country that is protected by others.
- Starting next year, Denmark will spend 2% of the country's wealth on defense spending.
- Support for Ukraine comes first.
- This means that Denmark will generally spend 2.4% of its GDP already this year and in subsequent years on defense spending.
Source: Press conference
-
-
-
-
