After Denmark reversed decades-old foreign policy and became the last country in the region in which to sign an agreement on defence cooperation with Washington, the US will now be able base troops and equipment in Denmark permanently.
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 prompted Sweden, Finland, and Denmark to all sign similar deals with the US recently, as a means of strengthening security ties with NATO’s main military force.
Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark and the US are taking a greater responsibility for Danish safety. This is a necessity.
The goal is to ensure peace for future generations.
Since the 1950s, Denmark has had a policy that does not allow foreign troops or nuclear arms on its soil. Under the 10-year agreement, nuclear weapons will not be stationed in Denmark. However, US troops will have access to three Danish airbases where they will be under US law.
The seven other Nordic and Baltic nations have signed defence cooperation agreements, in addition to being members of NATO or, in the case of Sweden, pending membership in the alliance.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic and Baltic region has become a major focus for western military and diplomacy.
The addition of Finland to Nato doubled the border between the alliance and Russia. The border has been closed since Russia encouraged asylum seekers without documentation to enter Finland.
Nordic countries are discussing more and more how to integrate their militaries. They are already closely connected, and they hold regular joint training missions. The Nordic neighbours, the Nordic countries of Sweden and Norway, have taken their fighter jets off and landed in Finland.
The future will be shaped by our individual strengths. “Finland is strong on land forces, Sweden in naval, and Norway is good in the Arctic”, said a Nordic diplomat.
In 2011, the US-Danish relations were strained when Donald Trump, the former American president, floated the idea to buy Greenland. This semi-autonomous territory is part of Denmark’s kingdom. He screamed when Frederiksen insisted that it wasn’t for sale.
Danish ministers dismissed questions on Tuesday about what might happen if Trump wins the elections in Washington next year. They said that the 10-year agreement for defence co-operation was the best one, whoever the president is.
Frederiksen stated: “It’s always wise to work as closely as possible with the US.” The Danish-American relationship must be protected by not even a single sheet of paper.