Denmark will increase its defense spending by 5.43 billion euros over the next five years by investing in strengthening its military capabilities, extending conscription, and providing additional support to Ukraine, the defense ministry said, AFP reported.
"The government plans to increase defense spending by a total of 40.5 billion crowns between 2024 and 2028," the ministry said in a statement.
"The total defense budget, including aid to Ukraine, will correspond to 2.4% of Danish GDP this year and in 2025," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference.
NATO has set a target for its members' military spending to amount to 2% of GDP.
This new package comes after the Nordic country, one of NATO's founding members, already announced last year that it was tripling its military spending in 10 years.
"We have never stopped investing in defense, but it is not enough," added Mette Frederiksen.
"If we want to achieve NATO's goal of being able to deploy a 6,000-strong brigade as quickly as possible and defend Denmark from air attacks, we need to modernize even faster," she added.
Denmark will also extend military service from four to 11 months, and it will now be open to women. / BGNES
