As a founding member of NATO, Denmark had previously downsized its military capabilities focused on European land warfare following the end of the Cold War. However, in response to the Ukraine crisis, the Danish government pledged last year to permanently increase defence and security spending to reach 2% of the country’s gross domestic product by 2030, a key objective for NATO member states.
Speaking at a press conference, Troels Lund Poulsen, the acting defence minister, emphasized the importance of meeting the demands and expectations of NATO and its allies. He highlighted the necessity of significant investments in the Danish Armed Forces to shoulder their share of responsibility.
Under the proposal, defence spending will progressively increase, reaching DKK 19.2 (EUR 2.65 billion) by 2033, up from DKK 6.9 (EUR 910 million) next year.
The majority government emphasized that the proposal sets the overall framework for defence spending, with continuous agreements on specific military procurements to be made throughout the designated period.
