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https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/denmark-to-pass-3-percent-gdp-on-defense-over-fear-of-russian-rearmament/
Denmark to pass 3 percent GDP on defense over fear of Russian rearmament European powers are still struggling to come to terms with the reality
of urgently having to do more to protect the continent without relying
on the US for renewed support.
By Tim Martin
on February 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
-pressemode-stm-2025-artikel
Danish officials address media regarding an increased defense spending
plan (Danish MoD)
BELFAST rCo Based on a strategic assessment that Russia could rearm faster than NATO should the war in Ukraine end or turn into a frozen conflict, Denmark says it plans on injecting an additional 50 billion DKK ($7
billion) to its defense budget over 2025-2026.
The uplift will see the Nordic nation exceed 3 percent GDP on military spending. In a translated statement from Wednesday, the government said
the extra money will speed up the rCLbuilding of the Armed ForcesrCO combat power,rCY and be drawn from an rCLAcceleration Fund.rCY
Copenhagen did not specify which weapon systems the new fund will be
used to acquire, but laid out its security fears in clear terms.
The Danish Ministry of Defence rCLassesses that when the war in Ukraine
stops or freezes and NATO does not arm itself at the same pace, Russia
will be able to free up significant military resources and, within about
2 years, pose a credible threat to one or more NATO countries in the
Baltic Sea region, if the US does not get involved,rCY it said.
The warning that Russia could rearm within two years is not out of step
with comments from other regional officials. During a recent trip to Washington, Lt. General Carl-Johan Edstr||m, SwedenrCOs Chief of Defense Staff, told Breaking Defense that it will take only a few years for
Russia to rearm itself if the Ukraine conflict freezes.
RELATED: Ticking clock: Northern NATO defense chiefs see ever-closing rCywindowrCO to prepare for Russia
rCLIf yourCOre a country with the border to Russia, then you say two to
three years. And if yourCOre really far away, then you say maybe five to
10 years,rCY he said. rCLYou have to look at that perspective, maybe five years, maybe less. Not more.rCY
European powers are still struggling to come to terms with the reality
of urgently having to do more to protect the continent without relying
on the US for renewed support.
US President Donald Trump labelling Ukraine President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy a rCLdictatorrCY and speculating that rCLhe is not going to have a country leftrCY have only heightened concerns in the region that
Washington is prepared to negotiate a peace deal along pro-Russian lines
and without any involvement from Kyiv or NATO allies.
rCLThe current security situation demands political action from European allies,rCY Danish Foreign Minister Lars L|+kke Rasmussen said during a Wednesday press conference, according to a post on X.
Washington also continues to test bilateral relations with Copenhagen
through its push to buy Greenland, which has included hints from Trump
that he would be open to military action to take it over. The island is
a self-governing territory that remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
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By Breaking Defense Staff
In January, DenmarkrCOs Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen quashed the US military takeover idea, telling local broadcaster TV 2 rCLI donrCOt have the imagination to imagine us getting there.rCY
CopenhagenrCOs latest spending pledge comes after it also committed last
month to spend $2.04 billion on new naval vessels, long-range drones and improved space capabilities in a bid to strengthen Arctic security.
Topics: Army, Denmark, Donald Trump, Europe, Global, NATO, Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky
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