New warships give Navy “necessary tools” for taking part in defence system
Denmark could become an active part of the Nato missile defence programme. However, the opposition will make participation contingent on Russian involvement.
The Danish contribution to the programme could consist of the Navy’s three new frigates, which are specifically designed to fire ballistic missiles. This would enable the ships to enter into Nato’s controversial missile defence programme, which covers North America and the European members of the alliance.
“When we decided to build the frigates ten years ago, we insisted they should have the capacity to enter into some sort of missile defence. If we agree on a missile defence programme, then we’ll have the necessary tools,” Gitte Lillelund Bech, the defence minister, told Berlingske Tidende newspaper.
This weekend, government representatives from the 28 Nato countries will meet in Lisbon to discuss the possibility of including missile defence to the organisation’s future strategy. Russia is also invited to the meeting.
The Social Democrats and the Socialist People’s Party are in favour of an active Danish involvement in the missile defence programme, provided that Russia also enters the programme.
“The details of Nato’s missile defence plans are as yet unclear. But it means a lot to us that Russia becomes involved too,” said Holger K Nielsen, the Socialist People’s Party defence spokesman.
The Copenhagen Post
