Denmark Denmark holds referendum on joining EU defense and increases defense spending

Stockholm

Denmark made a series of historic decisions on Sunday when the prime minister Mette Frederiksen told about future changes in the country’s security and defense policy.

Denmark intends to increase its defense budget, hold a referendum on joining the EU’s common defense and completely disengage from Russian gas.

According to Prime Minister Frederiksen, representing the Social Democrats, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a world-changing event. The prime minister noted that historical times call for historic decisions.

“Over the last ten days, the world has changed. There was Europe before 24 February, and Europe after that, ”he said at a news conference according to the Danish newspaper Berlingske.

Frederiksen said Denmark will increase its defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2033. The 2% limit is a limit required by the military alliance from NATO members, which Denmark, like many other countries, has not met.

Denmark intends to gradually increase defense funding. For the next two years, the country will increase its investment by SEK 7 billion (EUR 940 million). As a result of the investments, Denmark’s budgetary constraints will be relaxed.

Natoon Denmark, which has been a member since the beginning, will hold a referendum on whether it should join the European Union’s common defense. The vote will take place on 1 June, and Prime Minister Frederiksen said he hoped the Danes would vote in favor of joining the EU defense.

Denmark has had a special arrangement negotiated since 1993 under which it has refrained from participating in EU military operations. In Denmark, therefore, a vote will be taken to repeal that special arrangement.

From Russia Prime Minister Frederiksen has not yet said a timetable for exiting the gas. According to the Prime Minister, the largest parties in the country’s parliament have agreed that Denmark will secede from Russian gas “as soon as possible”.

According to the Prime Minister, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin the attack on Ukraine has created a new reality in Europe.

“The struggle in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. It is about everything we believe in: our values, democracy, human rights, peace and freedom, ”Frederiksen said.

Like Denmark, many European countries have said they will increase their defense spending because of the Russian invasion. Sweden and Finland have also reported additional investments or plans to make the defense more effective.

The biggest investments so far have been reported by Germany, which said it would increase its defense budget by 100 billion euros this year and increase its defense spending to more than 2 percent of GDP.