Rapid Armaments: "Threat to the Whole of Europe"

Mette Frederiksen

Rapid Defense Effort: "Threat to the Whole of Europe"
Denmark to Arm Defense with 75 Billion SEK

Agnès Ericson,

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 21.07 | Published 20.16

Denmark will rapidly arm its defense with the equivalent of 75 billion Swedish kronor.

Fear of war in Europe is behind the armament.

- Russia is a real threat to the security of all of Europe, says Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

           

           Starmer: "Dags att ta ansvar"

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Starmer: "Time to Take Responsibility"
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen participated tonight in the crisis meeting with French President Macron in Paris.

According to sources to DR, the Danish government is now planning to quickly arm the Danish defense with 50 billion Danish kronor.

This corresponds to approximately 75 billion Swedish kronor.

The Danish Prime Minister met with the press after the meeting. She then warned of the Russian threat and repeated several times the need for strengthened military defense in Europe.

– There is a need for rearmament. Both in Denmark and in Europe, she said.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen leaves the emergency meeting.

“Acceleration Fund”

Fear of war in Europe is behind the lightning investment in Danish defense, reports Ekstrabladet.

Denmark's military intelligence service has recently conducted a new investigation into the threat to the country

The money fund that will go to the Danish defense's rearmament is called internally within the Danish government the "acceleration fund", according to DR's sources.

- In light of the security policy situation and the seriousness that we are now experiencing, we will be forced to rearm faster to increase our capabilities, says Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen to DR.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AP

To be implemented over two years

The Danish rearmament will be implemented over two years. 25 billion this year and 25 billion in 2026.

In addition to Denmark, the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands participated in the meeting held by French President Emmanuel Macron.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, EU President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were also present at the meeting in Paris.

Macron is said to have spoken to US President Donald Trump before the crisis meeting. It is currently unclear what they discussed.

France's Macron with EU President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Photo: AP

Starmer's words after the meeting

The message from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the meeting was that Europe must do more.

- It is not just the future of Ukraine that is at stake, it is an existential issue for the whole of Europe, he told the press.

The only way to peace in Ukraine is an "American security guarantee" that deters Russia from attacking again, said Keir Starmer.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen states that Europe bears a great responsibility for military support for Ukraine.

"At the same time, we need a sharp increase in defense in Europe," she writes on X after the meeting.