Danish troops in Estonia as part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence contingent. (Photo: Danish Armed Forces)
Denmark is the latest European NATO member state to announce that it intends to increase military spending as a percentage of GDP and abolish its opt-out from EU defence mechanisms, in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
However, the government’s plan to maintain a 2% benchmark until 2033 must be approved by a referendum that will be held on 1 June.
In 2021, the Danish defence budget of DKK36.3 billion ($5.31 billion) equated to 1.47% of GDP. The new plan would see an extra DKK18 billion per year spent on defence, plus an extra DKK7 billion for other investment in the Danish Armed Forces.
Today, Denmark cannot vote on any EU defence policy decisions though it has a say in broader European defence policy discussions. The country cannot fund EU military operations or provide troops or resources to any EU presence in a conflict zone.
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
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