Denmark to boost defense spending by $7B

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Royal Danish Army soldier moves out during exercise Resolute Warrior 24 at Adaži, Latvia on 6 November 2024. (NATO photo via Flickr)

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -     Denmark will increase its defence budget by a combined 50 billion crowns ($6.99 billion) this year and next to address acute military shortcomings, the Nordic country's prime minister said on Wednesday. 

"Does the world look uneasy? Yes. Is there reason to believe it will be over soon? No," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference. "There is one message for the chief of defence: Buy, buy, buy."

After decades of drastic cuts in defence spending, Denmark last year allocated and extra 190 billion crowns for its military over a 10-year span.

The capabilities would be purchased without going through the normal lengthy tender procedures, Frederiksen added.

But the country, along with most other NATO members, has this year come under increased pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to ramp up military capabilities further.

While Denmark is among the biggest contributors of military aid and equipment to Ukraine relative to the size of its economy, the aid has depleted its own ground forces which lack hardware, ammunition and staff.

($1 = 7.1496 Danish crowns)

 (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, editing by Anna Ringstrom)