Fearing a reduction in US support in Europe, Denmark is determined to arm its military faster.

Denmark announced a new DKK50 billion (USD7.2 billion) defence acceleration fund on 19 February to increase the speed of its armament efforts and bring defence spending above 3% of its GDP.

The DKK50 billion, which spans 2025-2026, is the first of two spending packages announced by the government in the past week.

The second fund – announced on 22 February, three days after the first statement – goes further, with an additional DKK70 billion (USD9.8 billion) in the 2027-2033 period allocated towards building up the military.

 “The build-up of the Danish Armed Forces is not progressing fast enough in relation to how the world is developing”, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release said.

Recognising the potential for Russia to strike countries in the Baltics, and recent statements from the White House that Europe should bear more of the burden for its own defence, Denmark aims to rapidly build up its armed forces.

“All countries in Europe must step up their game. Denmark is doing this today”, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen said at a press conference. 

Execution of the funds will be determined at the discretion of the Chief of Defence, who will follow a process that mirrors the implementation of the Ukraine Fund. Where technical recommendations and discussions with industry drive the fulfilment of requirements.

The Danish MoD had not responded to DSEI’s request for comment at the time of publication.

Meanwhile, reforms on the organisation of the MoD’s Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) are taking place to cut down decision times on major procurements.

Recent Danish procurements have included plans to replace three Danish Navy’s Thetis-class  ocean patrol ships and acquire additional surface-to-air missiles.