USA’s military exercises on Danish soil continue for the third year in a row, as American forces are once again set to train on the island of Bornholm. The exercise, scheduled to take place from May 1st to May 7th, involves the transport of a weapons system to Bornholm Airport, where it will be set up in a military training area on the island. This was confirmed by Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen of the Venstre party in a briefing to the Danish Parliament’s Defense Committee. The Minister emphasized that no shots will be fired during the exercise. He also pointed out that the exercise not only has a military training aspect but also serves as a signal of alliance solidarity and American commitment to security in Europe and Denmark’s vicinity.
This repeated permission for American training exercises on Danish soil is part of a broader strengthening of military cooperation between Denmark and the United States. Last December, Denmark reached an agreement with the US, allowing American soldiers and equipment access to Danish air bases in Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg. Previous exercises, especially one in 2022 where a large missile system was transported to Bornholm, garnered international attention and led to a warning from Russia. The Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, expressed concern that Bornholm could be transformed from an island of peace into a potential military stronghold. However, the Minister of Defense has assured that there has been no change in the threat assessment towards Bornholm or Denmark as a whole as a result of these exercises.