| Danish Defence | |
|---|---|
| Forsvaret | |
 Coat of arms | |
.svg) | |
| Motto | Fordi noget er værd at kæmpe for (transl. Because something is worth fighting for) |
| Founded | 1949; 76 years ago (1949) |
| Current form | Defence Agreement 2018–23 |
| Service branches |  Royal Danish Army Royal Danish Navy Royal Danish Air Force Home Guard |
| Headquarters | Holmen Naval Base,Copenhagen,Denmark |
| Website | Official Website |
| Leadership | |
| Monarch[a] |  Frederik X |
| Prime Minister |  Mette Frederiksen |
| Minister of Defence |  Troels Lund Poulsen |
| Chief of Defence |  GeneralMichael Hyldgaard [da] |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 for voluntary service |
| Conscription | Yes |
| Active personnel | 21,000 military & 4,638 civilian (2024)[3] |
| Reserve personnel | 12,000 + 51,000 volunteers in the Home Guard |
| Deployed personnel | 800 (2024)[4] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | DKK 75 billion(2025) (€10 billion)[5] |
| Percent of GDP | 2.37% (2024)[6][7] |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Denmark |
| Ranks | Military ranks |
TheDanish Defence (Danish:Forsvaret;Faroese:Danska verjan;Greenlandic:Illersuisut;lit. 'the Defence') is the unifiedarmed forces of theKingdom of Denmark charged with the defence of Denmark and its self-governing territoriesGreenland and theFaroe Islands. The military also promote Denmark's wider interests, support internationalpeacekeeping efforts and providehumanitarian aid.[8]
Since the creation of a standing military in 1510, the armed forces have seen action in many wars, most involvingSweden, but also involving the world'sgreat powers, including theThirty Years' War, theGreat Northern War, and theNapoleonic Wars.
Today, the armed forces consists of: theRoyal Danish Army, Denmark's principalland warfare branch; theRoyal Danish Navy, ablue-water navy with a fleet of 20 commissioned ships; and theRoyal Danish Air Force, anair force with an operational fleet consisting of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The Defence also includes theHome Guard. Under the Danish Defence Law[9] theMinister of Defence serves as the commander of Danish Defence (through theChief of Defence and theDefence Command) and theDanish Home Guard (through theHome Guard Command).De facto the Danish Cabinet is the commanding authority of the Defence, though it cannot mobilize the armed forces, for purposes that are not strictly defence oriented, without the consent ofparliament.
The modern Danish military can be traced back to 1510, with the creation of the permanentRoyal Danish Navy. During this time, the Danish Kingdom held considerable territories, includingSchleswig-Holstein,Norway, andcolonies in Africa and the Americas.[10]
Following the defeat in theSecond Schleswig War, the military became a political hot-button issue. Denmarkmanaged to maintain its neutrality during theFirst World War, with a relative strong military force. However, following theInterwar period, a more pacifistic government came to power, decreasing the size of the military. This resulted in Denmark having a limited military, when Denmark wasinvaded in 1940.[10]
Since the establishment of the Danish military, the two branches operated independently, without much cooperation. They both had their own ministry, and their own air force.[11] The first proposal for aunified command came in 1928, whenHjalmar Rechnitzer [da] suggested an independent air force, with all three branches collected under a centralRigsværn (transl. Realm Defence).[12] It was however only after the lessons ofjoint operations inWorld War II, the branches were reorganized and collected under the newly created Danish Defence.[10]
Denmark tried to remain neutral afterWorld War II, with the proposedScandinavian defence union. However, Norway resigned from the talks, and withCold War tensions on the rise and the1948 Easter Crisis, Denmark was forced to join theNorth Atlantic Treaty.[10] During the Cold War, Denmark began to rebuild its military and to prepare for possible attacks by theSoviet Union and itsWarsaw Pact allies. During this time Denmark participated in a number of UN peacekeeping missions includingUNEF andUNFICYP.
Following the end of the Cold War, Denmark began a more active foreign policy, deciding to participate in international operations. This began with the participation in theBosnian War, where theRoyal Danish Army served as part of theUnited Nations Protection Force and was involved in two skirmishes. This was the first time the Danish Army was a part of a combat operation since World War 2.[13][14] On April 29, 1994, theRoyal Danish Army, while on an operation to relieve an observation post as part of theUnited Nations Protection Force, theJutland Dragoon Regiment came under artillery fire from the town ofKalesija. TheUnited Nations Protection Force quickly returned fire and eliminated the artillery positions. On October 24, 1994, theRoyal Danish Army, while on an operation to reinforce an observation post in the town ofGradačac, were fired upon by aT-55Bosnian Serb tank. One of the three DanishLeopard 1 tanks experienced slight damage, but all returned fired and put theT-55 tank out of action.
With theSeptember 11 attacks, Denmark joined US forces in theWar on terror, participating in both theWar in Afghanistan and theIraq War. In Afghanistan, 37 soldiers have been killed in various hostile engagements or as a result of friendly fire, and 6 have been killed in non-combat related incidents, bringing the number of Danish fatalities to 43,[15][16] being the highest lossper capita within thecoalition forces.[17] Denmark has since participated inOperation Ocean Shield, the2011 military intervention in Libya and theAmerican-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.
U.S. PresidentDonald Trump announced in January 2025 that he wanted to "buy" Greenland and express claims to the area belonging to Denmark. Danish politicians decided to significantly increase the military presence in Greenland and invest almost two billion euros to increase security in the strategically importantArctic region. The Ministry of Defense is planning three new ships for the Danish Arctic Navy (MPV80-class vessels), two additional long-range drones and satellites for better surveillance.[18]
The purpose of the Danish Defence is to prevent conflicts and war, preserve thesovereignty of Denmark, secure the continuing existence and integrity of the independent Kingdom of Denmark and further a peaceful development in the world with respect to human rights. This is defined in Law no. 122 of 27 February 2001 which took effect 1 March 2001.[19]
Its primary tasks are:NATO participation in accordance with the strategy of the alliance, detect and repel any sovereignty violation of Danish territory (includingGreenland and theFaroe Islands), defence cooperation with non-NATO members, especiallyCentral and East European countries, international missions in the area of conflict prevention, crisis-control, humanitarian, peacemaking, peacekeeping, participation inTotal Defence in cooperation with civilian resources and finally maintenance of a sizable force to execute these tasks at all times.
Total Defence (Danish:Totalforsvaret) is "the use of all resources in order to maintain an organized and functional society, and to protect the population and values of society".[20] This is achieved by combining the military,Home Guard,Danish Emergency Management Agency and elements of thepolice.[21] The concept of total defence was created following World War II, where it was clear that the defence of the country could not only rely on the military, but there also need to be other measures to ensure a continuation of society.[20] As a part of the Total Defence, all former conscripts can be recalled to duty, in order to serve in cases of emergency.[22]
Since 1988, Danish defence budgets and security policy have been set by multi-yearwhite paper agreements supported by a wide parliamentary majority including government and opposition parties.[23] However, public opposition to increases in defence spending—during periods of economic constraints require reduced spending for social welfare — has created differences among the political parties regarding a broadly acceptable level of new defence expenditure.[24]
The Defence agreement ("Defence Agreement 2018–23") was signed 28 January 2018, and calls for an increase in spending,cyber security and capabilities to act in international operations and international stabilization efforts.[25] The reaction speed is increased, with an entirebrigade on standby readiness; the military retains the capability to continually deploy 2,000 soldiers in international service or 5,000 over a short time span. The standard mandatoryconscription is expanded to include 500 more, with some of these having a longer service time, with more focus on national challenges.[25]
In 2024, after more than a decade of significant cuts in defense spending, the Danish government allocated around 25.5 billion euros for its military over a period until 2034, part of which is earmarked for the Arctic.[26]
In 2006 the Danish military budget was the fifth largest single portion of the Danish Government's total budget, significantly less than that of theMinistry of Social Affairs (≈110 billionDKK),Ministry of Employment (≈67 billion DKK),Ministry of the Interior and Health (≈66 billion DKK) andMinistry of Education (≈30 billion DKK) and only slightly larger than that of theMinistry of Science, Technology and Innovation (≈14 billion DKK). This list lists the complete expenditures for the DanishMinistry of Defence.
The Danish Defence Force, counting all branches and all departments, itself has an income equal to about 1–5% of its expenditures, depending on the year. They are not deducted in this listing.
Approximately 95% of the budget goes directly to running the Danish military including the Home guard. Depending on year, 50–53% accounts for payment to personnel, roughly 14–21% on acquiring new material, 2–8% for larger ships, building projects or infrastructure and about 24–27% on other items, including purchasing of goods, renting, maintenance, services and taxes.
The remaining 5% is special expenditures to NATO, branch shared expenditures, special services and civil structures, here in including running theDanish Maritime Safety Administration,Danish Emergency Management Agency and the Administration of Conscientious Objectors (MilitærnægteradministrationenArchived 2009-03-23 at theWayback Machine).
Because Denmark has a small and highly specialized military industry, the vast majority of Danish Defence's equipment is imported from NATO and theNordic countries.[27]
There are significant differences between the Danish method and the NATO method of calculating defense budgets (among others due to what can be included), with the former resulting a considerably lower numbers than the latter.[6] For example, according to the Danish method, the expenditures in 2024 was DKK 36.16 billion, but according to the NATO method it was DKK 68.67 billion.[6] Using the NATO method, it has consistently increased in the last decade, with the budget tripling from 2014 to 2024 (DKK 22.77 to 68.67 billion) and the percentage doubling (1.15 to 2.37%).[6] The following all use the Danish method:
Danish Defence expenditures (1949–1989)[28][29]
| 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | |
| Total Budget (Billions) Kr. | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.48 | 0.68 | 0.89 | 0.89 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 1.01 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 1.11 | 1.18 | 1.55 | 1.65 | 1.76 | 1.97 | 2.08 | 2.25 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.97 | 3.20 | 3.39 | 3.52 | 4.46 | 5.36 | 5.71 | 6.38 | 7.29 | 8.05 | 9.12 | 10.30 | 11.67 | 12.57 | 13.05 | 13.34 | 13.33 | 14.65 | 15.62 | 15.96 |
| Percentage ofGNP | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Defence Spending % Change | -0.3 | +0.4 | +0.6 | +0.7 | -0.2 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +0.1 | -0.2 | -0.3 | +0.1 | -0.9 | +1.4 | 0.0 | -0.2 | 0.0 | -0.2 | 0.0 | +0.1 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -0.2 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -0.2 | 0.0 | +0.1 | 0.0 | +0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.2 | +0.1 | +0.1 | -0.1 | |
Danish Defence expenditures (1990–)[28][29][30]
| 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | |
| Total Budget (Billions) Kr. | 16.4 | 17.09 | 17.13 | 17.39 | 17.29 | 17.47 | 17.90 | 18.52 | 19.07 | 19.43 | 19.34 | 21.02 | 21.27 | 21.08 | 21.44 | 20.80 | 23.17 | 22.73 | 24.41 | 23.25 | 25.33 | 24.26 | 25.62 | 23.72 | 25.02 | 22.633 | 24.190 | 25.165 | 20.938 | 23.516 | 25.325 | 26.383 | 27.1 | 27.1 |
| Percentage ofGNP | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.16 | 1.17 | 0.93 | 1.01 | 1.14 | 1.07 | 1.06 | 1.05 |
| Defence Spending % Change | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | 0.0 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0 | -0.1 | 0.0. | 0.0 | -0.1 | +0.1 | -0.1 | 0.0. | 0.0 | -0.2 | +0.1 | -0.1 | +0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | 0.0 | -0.2 | +0.06 | +0.01 | -0.24 | +0.08 | +0.13 | -0.07 | -0.01 | -0.01 |
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The Danish Royal Army (Danish:Hæren) consists of 2 brigades, organised into 3 regiments, and a number of support centres, all commanded through theArmy Staff. The army is a mixture ofMechanized infantry andArmoured cavalry with limited capabilities inArmoured warfare.
The army also provides protection for theDanish royal family, in the form of theRoyal Guard Company and theGuard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron.
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The Royal Danish Navy (Danish:Søværnet) consists offrigates,patrol vessels,mine-countermeasure vessels, and other miscellaneous vessels, many of which are issued with the modular mission payload systemStanFlex. The navy's chief responsibility is maritime defence and maintaining thesovereignty ofDanish,Greenlandic andFaroeseterritorial waters.
A submarine service existed within the Royal Danish Navy for 95 years.
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The Royal Danish Air Force (Danish:Flyvevåbnet) consists of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
The Home Guard is voluntary service responsible for defence of the country, but has since 2008 also supported the army, inAfghanistan andKosovo.
Current deployment of Danish forces, per 10-03-2016:[32]
Women in the military can be traced back to 1946, with the creation ofLottekorpset. This corps allowed women to serve, however, without entering with the normal armed forces, and they were not allowed to carry weapons. In 1962, women were allowed in the military.[35]
Currently 1,122 or 7.3% of all personnel in the armed forces are women.[36] Women do not have to serve conscription in Denmark, since 1998, it is however possible to serve under conscription-like circumstances; 17% of those serving conscription or conscription-like are women.[37] Between 1991 and 31 December 2017, 1,965 women have been deployed to different international missions.[38] Of those 3 women have lost their lives.[39] In 1998, Police Constable Gitte Larsen was killed inHebron on theWest Bank. In 2003,Overkonstabel Susanne Lauritzen was killed in a traffic accident inKosovo. In 2010, the first woman was killed in a combat situation, whenKonstabelSophia Bruun was killed by an IED inAfghanistan.[40]
In 2005,Line Bonde became the first female fighter pilot in Denmark.[41] In 2016,Lone Træholt became the first female general.[42] She was the only female general in the Danish armed forces until the army promotedJette Albinus to the rank of brigadier general on 11 September 2017.[43]In May 2018, theRoyal Life Guards was forced to lower the height requirements for women, as the Danish Institute of Human Rights decided it was discrimination.[44]
Technically all Danish 18-year-old males are conscripts (37,897 in 2010, of whom 53% were considered suitable for duty).[45] Due to the large number of volunteers, 96-99% of the number required in the past three years,[46] the number of men actually called up is relatively low (4,200 in 2012). There were additionally 567 female volunteers in 2010, who pass training on "conscript-like" conditions.[47] Universal conscription of women under a lottery system went into effect in 2025.[48]
Conscripts to Danish Defence (army, navy and air force) generally serve four months,[49][50] except:
There has been a right ofconscientious objection since 1917.[54]
