Denmark agrees to US military on Danish soil
After 18 months of negotiations, the US and Denmark have reached a deal on closer military cooperation. The agreement means that US soldiers and military equipment can now be permanently stationed in Denmark.
Alliance compensates for own defence limitations
For Berlingske, the agreement comes at an opportune moment:
“The government has made the right decision. ... This significantly reduces the pressure on the Danish defence, whose ability to defend Denmark and participate in international missions, such as in the Baltics, is at a historic low. ... With the new agreement, Denmark forms a smart alliance with the USA, along with Norway, Sweden, and Finland.”
Nuclear weapons part of the package
Jyllands-Posten underlines a critical point:
“Having the US as a guarantor of security has its price. And that price is nuclear weapons. Without them, America's security guarantee would not be worth much. However, they also represent a sensitive issue in the relationship between Denmark and the US. The government cannot guarantee that the Americans will not bring nuclear weapons with them when they dock at Danish harbours or move around on Danish territory. ... The point is that the US won't ask. So Denmark doesn't have to answer.”