Denmark Signs Defense Agreement with the US: "Troop Deployment and Equipment Placement"

Prime Minister Frederiksen: "Strengthening US Access to Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea"
Finland Signed Defense Agreement the Previous Day

Denmark in Northern Europe has signed a defense agreement with the United States following Finland and will station U.S. troops on its soil.

According to major foreign media on the 19th (local time), Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a press conference that a defense agreement had been signed with the United States.

Prime Minister Frederiksen stated, "Through the defense agreement, U.S. troops will be stationed at Danish Air Force bases, and U.S. military supplies will be deployed on Danish territory," adding, "This agreement will strengthen the U.S. access to Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region."

Frederiksen also mentioned that after both countries sign later this week, the agreement will come into effect within a year upon approval by the parliament.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is delivering a speech at the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv on September 6 (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

Finland, which shares a border with Russia, signed a defense agreement with the United States one day earlier than Denmark. Once approved by the Finnish parliament and the agreement comes into effect, the U.S. will be able to use 15 military bases located in Finland.

Norway and Sweden signed defense agreements with the United States last year and on the 5th of this month, respectively. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated yesterday regarding the defense agreement with Finland, "We now have a network of defense agreements extending from the Norwegian Sea to the Black Sea, covering northern to southern Europe, providing security and stability across the entire European continent."

Russia is expected to oppose Denmark’s decision. Russia protested the signing of the defense agreements between the U.S. and Finland, claiming it threatens Russia’s security, and summoned the Finnish ambassador to Russia to the Foreign Ministry as a sign of protest.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement, "Russia will not tolerate NATO’s military buildup on its borders threatening Russia’s security," warning, "Finland must bear all responsibility for turning a neighborly and friendly region into a potential confrontation zone," Sputnik News reported.