Denmark unveils plans to invest $5.6B to modernize defense

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) – Denmark’s three-party coalition government unveiled its plan to invest as much as $5.6 billion over the next decade to modernize its military department, revamp defense infrastructure, increase soldiers and upgrade the defense-cyber department in the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.

Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen expressed the direness of the situation by stating that the previous governments and senior defense officials did not prioritize spending money on the defense department hence creating “a very serious situation.”

"Are all responsible for the fact that we have ended up in this situation," said Lund Poulsen. "For many years, the security policy situation has worn down the armed forces.

"We are now faced with a major task of restoring the foundation of the armed forces before we build on top of it," said Lund Poulsen.

Meanwhile, Gen. Flemming Lentner, head of Denmark’s armed forces, said in a news conference: “We lack soldiers and many buildings are not up to date, or are dilapidated. The same applies for part of our equipment and the computer systems.”

The Danish government said it plans to invest $1.6 billion on new investments, however, it gave no further details on the proposed plans. It aims to reach a NATO target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030.

On Wednesday, Denmark Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced Tuesday that a new military support package worth €225 million ($247.5 million) for Ukraine is “on its way” as the need remains imminent in the fight for the freedom and security of Europe.

A tweet by the Foreign Ministry said a broad majority in parliament supports the provision of a large donation package and it includes vehicles, materials, defense ammunitions, field bridges, mine clearance hoses and financial contributions for the purchase of air defense aimed to further assist the Ukrainian army in combat missions.

Rasmussen promised the donation but the package is conditional on a grant from the Finance Committee.