Denmark Enhances Defense Capabilities with Long-Range Weapons to Address Russia’s Growing Threat

Denmark will invest in long-range precision weapons to strengthen its defense against Russia, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced, according to a Reuters report on September 18.

While there is no immediate threat to the Nordic country, the move comes after years of military budget cuts and in response to the growing instability caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Frederiksen told Reuters.

This year, Denmark has significantly increased its military budget to address gaps in its defense capabilities.

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Frederiksen stated that while the country is not at immediate risk, the threat posed by Russia will remain a concern for Europe, including Denmark, in the long term.

As part of these efforts, Denmark plans to acquire missiles and drones capable of striking targets deep within enemy territory, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Reuters.

“With these weapons, the defence forces will be able to hit targets at long range and, for example, neutralise enemy missile threats,” Aljazeera reported, adding that the decision represented a “paradigm shift in Danish defence policy”

However, details regarding the total expenditure and specific weaponry remain unclear.

Additionally, Denmark recently committed to spending $9.2 billion on European-made air defense systems, marking the largest arms purchase in the country’s history.

Russia strongly reacted to Denmark’s announcement, labeling the plans as “pure madness” and implying that the purchase was an overt threat aimed at Moscow, New York Times reported.

Poulsen emphasized the importance of bolstering Denmark’s ability to strike back and maintain a layered air defense in partnership with ground-based systems, as demonstrated by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Previously, it was reported that Denmark is moving to deepen defense cooperation with Ukraine by expanding joint weapons production and offering Ukrainian companies a “safe haven” for manufacturing, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said during a press conference in Kyiv following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to UNITED24 Media correspondent.

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