Denmark May Allow US Troops on Its Soil Under New Military Pact

 

The US has been working to increase its military presence in Europe amid tensions with Russia

by Dave DeCamp Posted onFebruary 10, 2022CategoriesNewsTagsDenmark, NATO

On Thursday, Denmark’s prime minister said the Scandinavian country will begin negotiations with the US on a new military pact that might station American troops in the country. Such an agreement would reverse Denmark’s decades-old policy of not allowing foreign troops on Danish soil.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the agreement would be a “breakthrough” since it would station foreign troops in Denmark. “An increased American commitment here in Denmark will improve the access of the United States to the European continent,” she said.

Frederiksen insisted the potential deal is not related to the latest issues between the US and Russia over Ukraine. But amid the heightened tensions, the US has been working to increase its troop presence in Europe, including a new treaty with Slovakia that allows the US military to use Slovak air bases.

Danish Defense Minister Morten Boedskov said the potential agreement wouldn’t establish US military bases in Denmark, but declined to elaborate further. Danish media said Denmark is looking to sign a deal similar to the one the US and Norway signed in 2021.

Under the deal with Norway, the US is building facilities at Norwegian military bases, and US troops can move freely in and out of the country. Both Denmark and Norway are NATO members.

Besides the new military pacts, the US has also been increasing its presence in Eastern Europe. As part of a new deployment, US F-15 fighter jets landed in Poland on Thursday.   

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/10/denmark-may-allow-us-troops-on-its-soil-under-new-military-pact/