Denmark plans 50-billion-kroner defence package

Copenhagen (dpa) – Denmark plans to set up a 50-billion-kroner (7-billion-dollar) rearmament fund due to concerns about Russia, the government announced on Wednesday.

This year and next, the NATO member plans to invest the so-called Acceleration Fund in the rapid procurement of defence goods, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference in Copenhagen.

The message to acting Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard is: “Buy, buy, buy!” Frederiksen said, adding that only speed mattered now.

As a result, Denmark would end up spending more than 3% of its gross domestic product on defence in 2025 and 2026, Fredriksen said, calling it the highest level in more than half a century.

Denmark has come under pressure from US President Donald Trump’s expressed interest in taking control over Greenland, part of the Danish kingdom.

Trump claimed that Denmark, a country of 6 million inhabitants, could never defend the world’s largest island on its own.

Trump has also demanded for some time that his country’s NATO allies significantly increase their defence spending.

Russian threat

The 50-billion-kroner fund is primarily being justified by the perceived threat from Russia.

According to the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE), Russia could be ready for a large-scale war in Europe within five years of an end to the war in Ukraine, if the United States does not come to the aid of its NATO allies.

Although the FE sees no specific Russian plans for a war against a NATO country, Frederiksen said Denmark must significantly increase its defences to protect itself and avoid war.