Mette Frederiksen on Denmark: – We have been too naive
On Sunday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted in her New Year’s speech that Denmark has been too naive with regard to its own security. She then urged Danes to do more.
– Denmark continues our diverse and loyal support for Ukraine. At the same time, we must prepare for the fact that here at home we are also facing a heightened level of threat. In Europe, we tend to imagine that the rest of the world thinks and acts like us. We believed for many years that trade and growth would almost automatically lead to peaceful coexistence.
– We geared down when the others geared up. And in a number of areas we have made ourselves too dependent on others. Now we see that we have been too naive. That we are on the threshold of a new era – which will be challenged, said Frederiksen and swore that in 2030 they must keep their promise to Nato to spend 1% of their own GDP on defence.
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Frederiksen also said that Danes have difficulty understanding Russia’s atrocities.
– With hand in heart: We cannot get through both war in Europe, climate crisis and challenges here at home if we are not, each and every one, ready to give more.
Retired colonel Lars R. Møller is critical.
– Considering that in 2014 a prime minister from the Social Democrats stood and promised that we should increase our contribution, I cannot be impressed. It’s been eight years, and not a single thing has happened, says Møller to Danes BT.