Denmark increases military spending because of Russia
Denmark’s parliament decided on Sunday, January 28 to increase the country’s military expenditure by 12.8 billion crowns or USD 2.14 billion over the next six years. "The threat posed by Russia is real and increasing, so we must show determination in strengthening our defense capacity, and we are determined," said Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Reuters reports.
The budget will be used for the fight against cyber threats and for financing Denmark's international operations. Copenhagen will also establish a new 4,000-member army brigade in the Baltic Sea region.
By 2023, the country's military spending will be 20 percent above current levels, the agency states. Denmark's military budget for 2018 amounts to 22 billion crowns or about 3.7 billion dollars.