Interview with H.E. Ambassador Liselotte Plesner, Permanent Representative of Denmark to NATO
Your Excellency Ambassador Plesner, we are very much honored to have this interview with you. Thank you for giving us this occasion.
Q 1: The first question is about Denmark’s leadership in NATO, and the military concept of ‘Denmark’s Security is deeply rooted in NATO’ proclaimed by Danish Ministry of Defence. Please give us a panoramic view of Denmark’s leadership in NATO and what this concept means for the role and commitments that Denmark holds in the Transatlantic security and defence.
Thank you, it is always a pleasure to talk about the importance of NATO and this is a great opportunity to create awareness about Denmark’s work and active role within NATO.
Denmark’s security is indeed deeply rooted in NATO, and for the past 72 years NATO has been the cornerstone of Danish defence and security policy. We have continuously contributed to the adaption of NATO to fit the world’s ever changing challenges, all resulting in maintaining NATO as the world’s most successful alliance. NATO is a central platform for foreign-, security- and defence consultations among allies on both sides of the Atlantic, and under American leadership the Alliance has ensured peace in the Euro-Atlantic area allowing the people of Denmark to prosper in a free and open society.
We are a small country, and we cannot face our security challenges alone. NATO is the guarantor of our security and by virtue of its role as a value-based organisation the guarantor of our way of life.
In 1949, NATO was founded on the same principles and values as we stand for today, and it is essential for Denmark together with allies and other like-minded countries to uphold and protect our values such as democracy, individual freedom, and the rule of law as laid out in NATO’s founding Washington treaty.
Safeguarding the rules-based international order is also important for the Alliance. This is why NATOis currently working on the forward-looking agenda NATO2030. We see a fundamental shift in the global balance of power, and NATO needs to be fit to match the derived consequences as well as the challenges that persist. Euro-Atlantic security depends on strong transatlantic bonds and we are therefore looking forward to this year’s summit and to recommitting to our special bond and shared values.
NATO 2030 and the upcoming summit comes at a pivotal moment for the Alliance. The current security environment is both complex, unpredictable, and the most challenging since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Systemic competition with countries that do not share our democratic values and undermine the rules-based international order as well as terrorism, disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks and climate change all require constant adaptation and agility. Consequently, Denmark has actively sought to respond through the Alliance by continuously increasing our shared focus on the capabilities required by NATO to maintain our collective deterrence and defence.
Denmark has contributed substantially to NATO operations and missions throughout the years, including through the command of NATO Mission Iraq, the present contribution to NATO’s missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and regular contributions to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltic Sea Region and NATO Air Policing. Denmark has been ready to contribute, also, to difficult operations and missions to the benefit of Allied security. I believe that our contributions and continuous engagement has given us the reputation as a constructive and capable ally.
Through 72 years of being an ally in NATO, Denmark has seized opportunities to translate our commitment into operational actions. We believe in the transatlantic bond and the foundational values we all share and every day we go to work with the intention of letting our actions and decisions reflect this belief.
Denmark Placed its Financial Support for Prosecuting War Crimes in Syria
With this news measure, the Danish government will allocate the mount of DKK 7.65 million to the UN-led initiative which was adopted bythe UN Resolution in December 2016.
Denmark has opened a new innovation centre in Tel Aviv in October that will strengthen Danish innovation, research, growth, and employment. Announced by the Denmark’s MFA.
Denmark Once Again Best European Country for Business
For the sixth year in a row Denmark is ranked the easiestplace in Europe to do business. Globally, only New Zealand and Singapore are ahead of Denmark in the World Bank’s‘Ease of Doing Business Index Report’. “It is important for our ability to attract foreign investments that Denmark is one of the world’s best places to start and run a business. We will take advantage of the excellent ranking to make even more international companies aware of Denmark as an attractive place for doing business. I am also pleased to see that Denmark is the best country in the world to use as a base for International Trade.” Elaborated Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen on this occasion.
About the World Bank’s Doing Business report
The ‘Doing Business’ report presents quantitative indicators on 11 areas of business regulation for 189 economies.
The top 10 of the ranking is characterised by considerable stability and include, among others, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden.
Invest in Denmark and CopenhagenCapacity are helping IBM expand its activities with a new innovation centre in Copenhagen. Within two years, 250 IT professionals will be employed at the new centre. The first talents will join already by the beginning of 2017.
The Leadership of Denmark and its Armed-Forces in NATO Resolute Support
On July 14, Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen visited Danish Troops stationed in Afghanistan in the NATO Mission. Minister Jensen highlighted the occasion of his visit had been, first of all to say thank you to all Danish Troops serving in the NATO Resolute Support. And also to assess the situation in Afghanistan directly.
Denmark is one of the main Troops and Financial contributors to Afghanistan from ISAF Mission to NATO’s Resolute Support. In Mai 2016Danish Parliament ratified the Government’s plan on strengthening Danish Contingentin NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the increase of the Financial aids continuing throughout 2020.
Denmark – with Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands is part of an exclusive group of countries. Announced by the MFA of Denmark
The countries are the only ones to live up to the UN’s goal of giving at least 0.7 percent of the GNI in development aid. These are the findings of a preliminary report for 2015 published today by the OECD, an international economic cooperation organisation.
Denmark will bolster its Military Support to Afghanistan
From the time when the International Security Assistance Force ‘ISAF’ was established in 2001, and later transformed to non-Combat ‘Resolute Support’ in January 2015, the Royal Danish Armed Forces has been playing a potent role in both Operations. On the Financial scale Denmark has been also providing substantial amount of Humanitarian, Economic and Educational Aid to Afghanistan since 2001.
The recent announcement by the Government affirms with the further measures to bolster its Military support to Afghanistan– that to be applied on both:
Military Contingent, with the new increase in the number of Danish Troops in the region
And the increase of Financial support of USD 15 million annually throughout 2020 to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.
The United States praised Denmark for its vital Military Leadership in the NATO and in the Counter-ISIL Combat
The U.S Defense Secretary Carter met with Defense Minister Peter Christensen of Denmark in Stuttgart, Germany on May 4th to discuss a range of Security-Defence issues and the upcoming NATO summit in July.
Defense Secretary Carter thanked Denmark for intensifying its Military presence in Counter-ISIL combat and Denmark’s Military Leadership in continuing its support to NATO and the regional Security.
Denmark’s vital contribution to NATO includes:
Continuation of support for NATO’s regional Security
The Deployment of F-16 Fighter Aircraft to the Baltic and the Ballistic Missile Defense
Denmark’s leadership in Arctic security
And the continuation of support for NATO Resolute support Mission in Afghanistan.
Denmark the Frontrunner in the fight against Da’esh
The Danish Parliament gave a milestone support for Denmark to thrust ahead as a Frontrunner in the fight against Da’esh
On the occasion of this approval Minister Kristian Jensen stated:
“The fight against Da’esh is now entering a new phase. The global coalition has succeeded in denying Da’esh safe-havens and forcing the organisation back on the ground as well as disrupting its financial access and economic sustainment. But Da’esh still poses a major threat to the civilian population in the region – and to Europe through terrorist attacks and foreign terrorist fighters. Therefore, we must increase the Military pressure on them.” Continue to read
Redeployment of a F-16 FighterJet contribution, consisting of four operational F-16 fighter jets and up to three in logistical reserve. This contribution includes up to approximately 110 people. The fighter jet contribution will available for the full spectrum of air operations.
A Contingent comprising Special Forces of up to approximately 60 persons.
“I am pleased that a large majority has voted for the extended Danish Military engagement against the terrorist organisation Da’esh. With the broader mandate we will be able to fight Da’esh across the border to Syria leaving them nowhere to hide. It is important that we continue the fight and push even harder as they are currently being pushed back.
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