Løkke calls for increase in Denmark’s defense spend

Denmark should spend close to three percent of its GDP on defense, says Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to Berlingske. However, he did not commit to an exact three percent but indicated it should be closer to three than two percent. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen have also stated the need for defense spending to exceed two percent but have not provided specific figures. Currently, Denmark meets NATO’s two percent GDP defense spending requirement due to its support for Ukraine against Russia. Løkke suggests an additional cost of 30 billion kroner annually to reach three percent. In contrast, the Social Democrats, led by Frederiksen, have advocated for a more equitable pension system and responsible fiscal policy. Despite political debates and the unlikelihood of a right-wing government, the ruling coalition at present has support of 36.4 percent, down from the 50.1 percent secured in the 2022 elections.