Denmark to increase military spending due to 'Russian threat'
Denmark is planning to increase military spending due to Russia’s deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems in the Kaliningrad region, which is considered by the Danish Government as potential threat, as stated on Friday by the head of the Defense Ministry of the Kingdom, Claus Hjort Frederiksen.
"We can see today that the Russians are deploying new missiles in Kaliningrad which can reach Copenhagen. Of course, it is a serious threat,” the Minister said in an interview with the local newspaper Berlingske. At the same time he stated that despite the calls of NATO partners, Denmark cannot increase military spending to 2% of GDP.
"We are under considerable pressure from both Obama’s Administration, and we understand him, and, as we understand, from the future administration of President Trump to increase spending to 2%," the Minister noted. In December, the Danish Government, as part of NATO’s mission, offered to send 200 servicemen to Estonia.
Earlier, Russian S-400 missile systems, operational-tactical Iskander missile systems, Bastion and Bal coastal missile systems, and two missile corvettes – the Zelenyy Dol and Serpukhov – equipped with Kalibr NK missiles, were deployed in the Kalinningrad region.