Denmark has confirmed plans to acquire an additional 16 F-35 fighter jets from the United States, as announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen during a press conference on Friday. This decision follows recent incidents involving unidentified drones intruding into Danish airspace, including flights over military installations, which have led to heightened concerns among politicians about potential security threats, particularly from Russia.
In addition to the new aircraft, Denmark will invest approximately 2.1 billion kroner (around $320 million) in anti-drone defenses to bolster its security measures. The decision to purchase more F-35s will increase the total number of these advanced fighter jets in the Danish air force to 43. The overall expenditure for this acquisition is projected to reach 29 billion kroner (approximately $4.5 billion).
This military expansion comes at a time when European Union countries are contemplating whether to continue relying on American-made aircraft or to explore European alternatives. The Danish government is emphasizing the need for enhanced operational capacity in light of increasing geopolitical tensions.
Moreover, Denmark has indicated that it will be allocating substantial resources to enhance security in both the Arctic region and the North Atlantic. This commitment to bolster defense comes against a backdrop of criticism from the United States regarding Denmark’s efforts to secure the Arctic, a strategically important area that has garnered international attention.
The decision to procure these fighter jets occurs in the context of previous remarks by former President Donald Trump, who had expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. This geopolitical backdrop is likely influencing Denmark’s defense strategies as it seeks to navigate its security priorities in an evolving global landscape.
