In a new development in the case of the frigate “Iver Huitfeldt”, which earlier this year experienced technical problems and defective ammunition during an attack in the Red Sea, a final report reveals that Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V) was not informed about the issues prior to the incident. This was disclosed during a press conference held by the Ministry of Defense on Thursday afternoon. During the press conference, where also the acting Chief of Defense Michael Hyldgaard participated, Lund Poulsen emphasized the importance of the Danish Parliament having correct information when decisions are made about sending Danish soldiers on missions. “It is crucial that we make these decisions on a solid foundation and that we are informed if there are changes in the mission’s prerequisites,” he said.
The report, which has been long awaited, was first requested by Lund Poulsen after the media organization Olfi reported on the challenges of the frigate on April 2nd. The Minister of Defense wanted a quick and clear clarification of what had exactly happened and which information had been passed on to the ministry. Former Chief of Defense Flemming Lentfer was sent home shortly after the news of the frigate’s problems became public. According to Lund Poulsen, however, the sending home was not a direct consequence of the frigate issue, but rather due to a number of other factors.
During the press meeting, it was also revealed that there had been discrepancies between the Defense Command and the Ministry of Defense regarding the handling and communication of the frigate’s problems. These discrepancies have now been addressed in the final report, which the Minister of Defense has presented to the parties in the Defense Agreement Committee during a confidential briefing earlier in the day. Troels Lund Poulsen and Michael Hyldgaard will continue to follow up on the case and ensure that similar communication errors are avoided in the future to strengthen the security and effectiveness of Denmark’s defense missions.