The government has decided to send approximately 800 Danish soldiers to Latvia as part of Denmark’s contribution to NATO, which is fewer than the previously announced up to 1200 soldiers. According to the Defence (Forsvaret), who spoke with Berlingske, the battalion of around 800 soldiers will be deployed for four months from August to December. The purpose of the deployment is to participate in NATO’s deterrence exercises on the alliance’s eastern flank towards Russia. Last year, the government announced that the deployment could range from 700 to 1200 soldiers over a period of four to six months. The decision to send fewer soldiers is due to a desire to avoid overburdening the Defence, as has been the case in the past.
When the combat battalion is stationed in Latvia, it will contribute more actively to deterring Russia, but the soldiers will remain ready for rapid activation and deployment, even when back at the barracks in Holstebro. Colonel Lieutenant Claus Asmussen Schmidt, chief of the operations section at the Army Command, emphasizes that this approach is in line with NATO’s strategies and needs. He also explains that the decision to send fewer soldiers is part of a larger effort to strengthen the Danish defense to meet NATO’s requirements and obligations. This work requires both resources and manpower.
Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, Peter Viggo Jakobsen, criticizes the current situation and points out that the Defence has not received the necessary resources in recent years to build the required capacity. He believes that there has not been time or money available to adequately build up the Defence. With the deployment to Latvia, Denmark takes another step towards supporting NATO and strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank, while also working to improve national defense and fulfill international obligations.