Denmark Launches Historic Defense Buildup

Trump goes full Putin on Ukraine.

🇩🇰

Amid rising global tensions, the Danish government has declared it will make a significant boost to already historically high defense spending. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, citing growing security threats from Russia and uncertainty regarding NATO’s future, says her government will allocate an additional 50 billion kroner (about $10 billion Cdn/ or €6.7 billion) over the next two years, pushing Denmark’s defense spending to an unprecedented 3% of GDP.

“This is the highest level in over half a century. I'm not saying we're in wartime, but I can't say we're in peacetime either. We are strengthening defense to prevent war.”

Defense spending in Denmark last year equaled 2.4% of its GDP.

The Danish government has assured citizens that the 50 billion kroner increase will not result in immediate budget cuts or economic hardships. Instead, it will be financed through “a loosening of fiscal policy as well as by utilizing the underlying improvement of public finances.” However, Frederiksen acknowledged that long-term military funding will require difficult financial decisions.

“It will require a new and comprehensive economic plan, involving many tough choices and priorities.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen believes the sheer amount of money Denmark is now spending on defense sends a strong signal.

“In a situation where there is a risk that we are more on our own than we have been historically, we must be able to do more. And Denmark is showing the way forward here.”

Løkke is referring to the uncertainty surrounding American support for Europe and NATO after Donald Trump became president, and especially after the events of the last few days.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen echoed this urgency, stressing that new action is necessary as the security situation in Europe continues to deteriorate. “We must increase our combat capability.”

In making the announcement, Mette Frederiksen said they are going to dispense with the traditional tender process in favour of buying the necessary weapons and ammunition as fast as possible. Frederiksen says the truth is procuring weapons and ammunition in Europe is a process that is much too slow, and Denmark can no longer afford to wait as the need now is urgent.

“There is only one thing that counts now, and that is speed. Because the situation now is that Russia produces more defense equipment in three months than NATO does in a whole year. If we can't get the best equipment, buy the next best. Then we don't have time to wait for long processes and long tenders. We have to set aside procedures that belong to a different and more peaceful time. Our task is to look after Denmark and Europe. And the fighting power must increase. It is Denmark's security that is at stake.”

At the Wednesday press conference, the prime minister had one message for Denmark’s military leaders.

“Buy, buy, buy. Buy what you can immediately.”

As part of its commitment to speed, Denmark’s Ministry of Defense will be streamlined according to defense minister.

“The way we have organized ourselves has become too bureaucratic. The chief of defense is going to have a much greater military significance.”

One of the biggest priorities in Denmark’s rush to rearm is to acquire a lot more air defenses, something the country currently lacks. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen acknowledged the issue, stating that a decision on air defense procurement is expected within months, but full operational readiness will take time. He says that Denmark is not completely paralyzed by its lack of ground-based air defenses because it has a fleet of fighter jets capable of intercepting and taking out any incoming missiles. He says Denmark’s Nordic allies would also help out over the short term.

During her address, Frederiksen referenced Germany in 1938, prompting questions about whether she equates Russian President Vladimir Putin with Adolf Hitler. She urged caution when making historical comparisons but firmly stated, “At no point have I believed that the war in Ukraine was primarily about Ukraine.” Instead, she argued, the conflict reflects Russia’s imperialist ambitions. “For three years, we have seen a Russia that is willing to use very brutal military force to fulfill its dreams,” she added.

As Denmark embarks on this unprecedented military rearmament, the prime minister remains steadfast in her stated goal: to deter war by ensuring that Denmark is prepared for any threat. Frederiksen emphasized that right now perfection should not be the enemy of good.

“We are in the most dangerous situation for many, many years. Therefore, to defend Denmark and avoid war, we are now embarking on further rearmament.”

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stressed that Russia now and in the future remains a clear and present danger to Europe.

“Within two years, Russia could pose a credible threat to one or several NATO countries if NATO does not build up its own military power at the same rate as Russia. This calls for swift, political action. The urgency of the situation means that we need to be able to invest in and build up fighting capability at increased speed. We only have a limited influence on production times, but if we use our right to award contracts directly, we can save time. Further, we have to deepen our cooperation with the industry and close allies, educating and training ourselves in the use of the equipment so that we are ready to use it when it is delivered.”

🇺🇸/ 🇺🇦

Within hours of Denmark announcing a new urgency in rearming, the global security situation took yet another hit. U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly launched a verbal attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he regurgitated Russian propaganda. Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections” and a “moderately successful comedian” and then accused him of starting the war with Russia, which is patently false. Russia invaded Ukraine, not the other way around.

Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha fired back on social media.

"Ukraine has endured the most horrific military attack in modern European history and three years of total war." The Ukrainian people and their president, Zelenskyy, have refused to give in to Putin's pressure. No one can force Ukraine to surrender. We will defend our right to exist.”

Zelenskyy also responded, saying Trump has his facts wrong and noted that a lot of the things he was saying come straight from the Russian propaganda playbook. At the same time, he also said that Trump and his voters live in a bubble of misinformation.

“We have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia.”

🇩🇰/ 🇺🇸

The reaction to the war of words on this side of the Atlantic was swift.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:

“I don't understand this attack. Zelenskyy is a democratically elected and otherwise unusually skilled political leader in Europe who, for almost three years, has done something that I don't think anyone else would be able to do: stood up not only for his own country and risked his own life, but also every single day fought for Europe's peace, freedom, and security and thus also for the Americans'.”

🇸🇪/ 🇺🇸

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also took Trump to task, saying that to accuse Ukraine of starting the war is “a misrepresentation.”

“It's an incorrect description. President Zelenskyy is democratically elected. I don't think there is anyone who would rather have an election than the Ukrainians, because an election would mean that peace had come to Ukraine.”

Former Swedish Prime Minister and current board member of the think tank European Council of Foreign Relations, Carl Bildt, did not mince words responding to Trump’s attack.

“What he says is incorrect, it is distorted, and it is dangerous. We probably have to realize that we have a savage in the White House; he can say anything. Putin could not have said it better. I think they are rejoicing in the Kremlin over this.”

Bildt believes that Trump is literally repeating what he heard in conversation directly from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“My thesis is that Putin said that to him.”

🇫🇮/ 🇺🇸

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb also disagreed with Trump’s comments.

“Finland supports Ukraine in every possible way. Finland supports Ukraine’s constitution and democratically elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The war of aggression was started solely by Russia and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. Our task is to discuss with Trump the consequences of Putin getting what he wants.”

🇩🇪/ 🇺🇸

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was even more blunt, calling Trump’s comments “wrong and dangerous.”

“It is simply dangerous to deprive Zelenskyy of his democratic legitimacy.”

Scholz also emphasized that it was Vladimir Putin who started the war, not Zelenskyy.

This is the latest blow to U.S. and European relations after a series of unsettling developments recently that have European leaders scrambling to chart a path forward as Trump takes a wrecking ball to America's allies and the western rules-based order while Vladimir Putin watches from Moscow with glee.