Denmark is moving forward with an ambitious defense expansion, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that the country must prepare for a worsening security situation in Europe. The Danish government is expected to announce plans for a substantial military buildup to bolster its national defense.
Speaking before parliament, Frederiksen described the current geopolitical climate as more dangerous than the Cold War. She insisted that Denmark must take decisive action, stating, “We must upgrade massively to protect Denmark. And we must rearm massively to avoid war.”
Denmark will spend 50 billion DKK ($7 billion) to rearm its military.
Initially, Danish government wanted to allocate more money to the fund, but European arms manufacturers are having a hard time keeping up with demand.
Source: Danish Broadcasting Corporation pic.twitter.com/RTClvaZ8w4
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While exact details remain undisclosed, Danish public broadcaster DR reported that the government plans to establish a 50-billion-kroner ($7 billion) defense fund for 2025-2026. Initial discussions considered doubling that figure, but the lack of available defense equipment led officials to scale back.
Denmark PM says will announce ‘massive’ rearmament plans https://t.co/nVRJ74ijfg
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Among the military enhancements under consideration is the acquisition of air defense systems, which Denmark does not currently possess. The government has stressed that these upgrades need to be implemented quickly as tensions continue to rise.
Should the full amount be approved, Denmark’s defense spending could reach 3% of GDP, surpassing NATO’s existing goal of 2%. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has pushed NATO countries to increase their spending to 5%. The U.S. currently spends around 3.4% of its GDP on defense.
Denmark has been a strong backer of Ukraine since 2022, providing about $7.52 billion in military assistance along with $741 million in civilian support, according to the Danish foreign ministry.
