U.S. signs defense cooperation agreement with Denmark

The United States signed a defense cooperation agreement with Denmark today in an effort to strengthen country “security collaboration” and deepen partnership ties.

The two NATO members' signing of this agreement, which creates a framework for amplified defense and security cooperation, builds off work both countries are doing to increase defense across the Atlantic, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the signing ceremony.

Blinken also brought up Denmark’s commitment to helping aide Ukraine during the ceremony, stating both countries are working toward helping Ukraine “stand on its own,” citing President Biden’s supplemental budget request, which is currently waiting to be passed by Congress, as a “critical” step in this mission.

Denmark "was one of the first countries to commit to supplying F-16s to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them,” Blinken said, according to a transcript of the event. “Earlier this month, Denmark pledged to provide $1 billion worth of tanks, drones, ammunition and to jointly fund the donation of new Swedish armored personnel . . . carriers . . . all of which will help Ukraine defend its territory and its democracy.”

Blinken said after the ceremony, the two countries will be able to sit down and discuss “the many issues and the many areas where the United States and Denmark together are dealing with the challenges of our time.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen said the agreement “is an important agreement that will bolster out bilateral security and defense cooperation. It will also enhance our cooperation in NATO and the Nordic region.”

The pact comes amid several defense cooperation agreements between the U.S. and Nordic countries. In 2021, the U.S. signed an agreement with Norway, earlier this month the U.S. signed a similar agreement with Sweden and just this week the U.S. signed an agreement with Finland.

“You have made similar agreements with our Nordic friends, and we are looking very much forward to welcoming our close Nordic neighbor and country Sweden to NATO sooner rather than later,” Rasmussen said at the ceremony. “And this defense agreement is a steppingstone towards a more secure Nordic region. It is a part of a parcel we have made during the last couple of years -- enhancing our defense budget, welcoming new members to the NATO Alliance, and now these bilateral agreements.”

Rasmussen brought up the importance of sticking together with allies amid multiple global crises, citing Russia “waging a brutal war” on Ukraine, the “terror in Israel” and the “humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

“In times like this, friends must stick together, and that is what we are doing with this agreement,” Rasmussen said.