Missile agreement: Denmark prepares for possible deployment of nuclear weapons
Denmark is experiencing a "creeping erosion" of the principles of the policy of non-deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime, Russian Ambassador to the kingdom Vladimir Barbin told Izvestia. All actions of the country's authorities allow for a change of position on this issue. In particular, the refusal to deploy warheads disappeared from the defense agreement with the United States, which was ratified in the summer. In addition, Denmark is increasing its military potential: it is announcing purchases of missiles, long-range drones and air defense systems. More and more European countries — for example, Poland, Lithuania and Sweden — also declare that they are ready to host nuclear weapons. What risks this poses to Russia and security in the region can be found in the Izvestia article.
Changing Denmark's nuclear policy
Denmark is gradually reviewing its policy of not deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Russian Ambassador to Copenhagen Vladimir Barbin told Izvestia.
"Currently, the Danish policy of not deploying nuclear weapons on Danish territory in peacetime is under pressure, and there is a creeping erosion of its fundamental principles," the diplomat told Izvestia.
In particular, when the defense agreement with the United States was ratified in the summer of 2025, the provision that "nuclear weapons cannot be deployed in Denmark in the current conditions, that is, in peacetime," disappeared from the original draft amendments. The 10-year document will allow the United States to permanently deploy its military at the Karup, Skridstrup and Aalborg bases, as well as store weapons and equipment in the country. At the same time, Denmark will not have control over which types of American weapons will be imported into its territory.
Danish Air Force F-16 fighter jets at one of the air bases
—Danish military experts point out that although the agreement does not give the United States the right to deploy nuclear weapons in Denmark, the new wording allows Copenhagen to 'adjust' Danish policy on nuclear weapons in order to respond to the increasing alleged threat from Russia," Barbin stressed.
Such arguments reflect the prevailing mood in the Danish government. In March, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not rule out the deployment of nuclear weapons on Danish territory in the future. Copenhagen is beginning to place increasing emphasis on the possible use of the nuclear arsenals of Great Britain and France as an "independent European deterrent to Russia."
British Vanguard-class nuclear-powered strategic submarine at Clyde Naval Base
"Various extravagant ideas are being expressed, including the possibility of paying from the Danish budget for the maintenance of the nuclear deterrence forces of Great Britain and France, in order to demonstrate to Russia that Denmark is able to respond to threats to its security with the use of nuclear weapons," said the Russian Ambassador to Copenhagen.
Against this background, Denmark is increasing purchases of conventional weapons. Copenhagen is planning to purchase long-range missiles and drones, Mette Frederiksen said in an interview with Dr. The Danish authorities will also spend $9.2 billion on eight European-made air defense systems, which will be the largest arms purchase in the kingdom's history.
Which countries can deploy nuclear weapons in Denmark
At the same time, Denmark has already provided its territory for the deployment of American Typhon attack systems adapted to firing missiles of various types, including Tomahawk, which can be equipped with nuclear warheads. This happened during the exercises on Bornholm Island in 2023 and 2024. Recently, it was decided to permanently deploy units of the Danish Armed Forces up to a regiment on the island, as well as a mobile ground-based anti-ship system.
— Bornholm has remained an island of peace for many years and even during the Cold War was not a place for military preparations, contributing to stability in the Baltic Sea region. However, today the island is used by Denmark to generate threats to the security of Russia, including the Kaliningrad region. Such hostile activity by Denmark, of course, does not go unnoticed by our country," Vladimir Barbin drew attention.
Tomahawk missile launch from the American Typhon attack complex
From a military point of view, there is little point in deploying US nuclear forces in Denmark, since this will not reduce the flight time and will not make any new geographical areas available for attack on the territory of Russia and its allies. In addition, the Trump administration is dominated by the view that it is necessary to deploy combat complexes in the Pacific Ocean, Ivan Loshkarev, associate professor of political theory at the MGIMO Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia.
— Denmark may be persistent, it may try to somehow promote the idea that these are almost the obligations of the United States. But then we will have to discuss the issue of Greenland, which Denmark categorically refused to give up, or discuss the possibility of changing its international legal status," the expert stressed.
Soldiers of the Danish Armed Forces during exercises in Greenland
It is unlikely that French nuclear weapons will appear in Denmark. The French presence in Scandinavia has been minimal since the 19th century, and President Emmanuel Macron is a "lame duck" because he has only a year and a half left in power without a majority in parliament. On the contrary, the UK can play a more serious role in the deployment of the nuclear umbrella due to its existing competencies, but this will happen within the framework of NATO rather than the European Union, Loshkarev concluded.
Which European countries may have nuclear weapons?
Currently, US nuclear weapons (about 100 B61 bombs) are located at six air bases in Belgium, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkey. In the event of a war, they can be installed on the aircraft of the country where they are stored, but only the US command can decide on their use.
Discussions about the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in other European countries intensified in the spring of 2025. In March, Emmanuel Macron proposed that Europe use the French nuclear deterrent arsenal to protect the entire continent from threats from Russia. At the same time, Paris intends to retain control over these weapons and the decision on their use.
The American B61 nuclear bomb under the fuselage of a fighter bomber
After that, several Eastern European countries declared their readiness to accept French nuclear weapons. For example, Warsaw is already having "serious conversations" with the French about their "nuclear umbrella" project. The new Polish president, Karol Nawrocki, also did not rule out the deployment of this type of weapon in the country. However, he is more inclined to the American "nuclear umbrella" rather than the French one, given his good relations with Donald Trump.
Lithuania also reacted positively to Macron's idea. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, although he ruled out the option in which Germany would have its own nuclear weapons, said he intended to discuss with France and Britain the issue of protecting Europe through their nuclear forces. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in May 2024 that his country would be open to American nuclear weapons if war broke out. In 2023, Stockholm signed a military agreement with Washington, giving it access to 17 military facilities on its territory.
The nuclear icebreaker Arktika, which carries out ice escort of a caravan of ships in the Laptev Sea along the Northern Sea Route
From a military and political point of view, it is most promising for the West to deploy nuclear weapons in Norway, as well as, possibly, in Sweden, says Ivan Loshkarev.
"This would make sense from the point of view of militarization of the Arctic region, creating a threat to the Northern Sea Route, which is gaining momentum more and more, and consolidating claims to the Arctic territories that are periodically put forward by the United States, Norway, and Canada," the political scientist said.
An F-16 fighter jet of the Danish Air Force escorts an American supersonic strategic bomber B-1 Lancer during exercises
In 2024, the Norwegian authorities announced that they were not going to deploy US nuclear weapons on their territory. However, in July of this year, Oslo presented its nuclear safety strategy for the first time. In addition, US strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons have been repeatedly deployed to the country.
Given the current level of confrontation between Russia and the West, such scenarios can be considered quite seriously, they are all aimed at further escalation, said political analyst Denis Denisov. Russia is already responding to the growing threats. For example, Moscow deployed nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus and lifted a voluntary moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. New missile systems, such as Sarmat and Oreshnik, are being commissioned to respond to new challenges.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
