Denmark leads NATO fleet from Norwegian vessel

Denmark has boarded a Norwegian vessel to lead NATO’s standing naval force, following an alteration to its contribution. The Danish frigate Iver Huitfeldt was slated to serve as the flagship, but due to technical issues after a mission in the Red Sea, it was removed from service. Instead, Denmark has offered to fulfill its leadership obligations from Danish naval stations. The Søværnskommandoen (Naval Command) has confirmed that command was transferred to the Norwegian vessel earlier than planned. The Danish frigate had experienced a system malfunction and faulty ammunition when it shot down four drones on March 9 in the Red Sea, but Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen was uninformed of these issues until media reported it, leading to the recall of Defense Chief Flemming Lentfer.