Armament and Transatlantic Relationships: The Danish Perspective

In Denmark, the increasing transatlantic disagreements and disputes are a significant cause for concern. As a small European state with an opt-out from EU defence cooperation and a strong transatlantic tradition, Denmark walks a fine line in its response to current developments in European security and defence policy. This entails overall Danish support for the new European initiatives – most notably the European Defence Fund (EDF), in which Denmark participates, and the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), where it cannot partake due to the defence opt-out. At the same time, NATO’s primacy in European security and the critical importance of the transatlantic bond are highlighted. Like its Nordic neighbours, Denmark pursues a cautious strategy of ‘active hedging’, i.e. monitoring the situation and the overall political developments in the transatlantic area while actively working to promote bi- and multilateral relations (Kristensen & Byrjalsen, 2020). For instance, the approach involves continuously stressing the importance of the transatlantic link and US-Danish bilateral relations, on the one hand, and simultaneously supporting EU defence cooperation and stepping up Danish support to French efforts in the Sahel, on the other hand…