US and Denmark agree to defense cooperation agreement
Mike Brest
Video Embed
Denmark has agreed to enhance its military cooperation with the United States, providing U.S. troops with more access to Danish military bases and the option to station troops or equipment permanently.
The agreement, which Danish leaders announced on Tuesday, follows similar deals made by the United States with other Nordic NATO allies, Sweden and Finland, all of which come on the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
SANDERS MINIMUM WAGE BILL WOULD REDUCE POVERTY BY 400,000 BUT ALSO KILL 700,000 JOBS: CBO
“We are now strengthening our bilateral defense cooperation, and we do not want to hide the fact that the agreement with the U.S. also marks a breakthrough in Danish defense policy, as it involves U.S. soldiers and U.S. material on Danish soil,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference. “This means that American soldiers and equipment can be permanently stationed on Danish soil.”
The deal will provide American personnel access to three Danish air bases in Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg, but it does not include the Faroe Islands and Greenland bases, the Danish defense ministry said in a statement.
”The Defense Cooperation Agreement is a historic agreement for Denmark. It will strengthen defense and security cooperation with our most important ally. Strong bilateral ties and close cooperation with the United States in NATO are crucial for our security in Europe. The agreement will improve access to Danish territory for American military personnel. This will enable the United States to contribute even more to our collective defense and deterrence in Europe — a core responsibility for NATO,” Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Lund Poulsen said at the press conference that the agreement is initially set to last 10 years, and it could then be revoked by either side with one year’s notice.
Denmark had a policy not allowing foreign troops or nuclear weapons on its soil dating back to the 1950s, according to the Financial Times, and the latter aspect remains unchanged even with the country’s new agreement with the U.S.