Politiken: Russian ambassador warned Denmark about the dangers of buying American missiles The Danish Defense Ministry is discussing the acquisition of American Tomahawk longer-range missiles.
If the deal goes through, Russia will be forced to take countermeasures, as Ambassador Vladimir Barbin warned the Danes in an interview with Politiken. The Danish expert is also cautious about owning this type of weapon.
Jacob Svendsen, Johan Blem LarsenRussia may strike first if Denmark receives long-range missiles.
The minister will not succumb to Russian threats.War of nerves — this is how relations between Denmark and Russia can be described on the eve of the discussion in Copenhagen of new purchases in the field of defense.
Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin made it clear in an interview with Politiken that Danish politicians would put the country's security at risk if Denmark decides to purchase new Tomahawk cruise missiles.
This became possible after a political agreement in March 2022, when a majority of members of parliament decided to significantly increase Denmark's defense budget to achieve NATO goals. Therefore, it is now being discussed what exactly the additional billions will go to.
If American missiles are launched from Danish frigates, they can be used to launch the first strike not only at Russian bases in the Baltic Sea, especially Kaliningrad, but also for strikes deep into Russia.
"The Tomahawk is a very dangerous and powerful weapon. Of course, we will take this into account in our military calculations," the Russian ambassador said.
"Denmark is obviously considering the possibility of becoming a springboard for an attack on Russia. That would be a very, very dangerous misunderstanding. One of your politicians even said that these weapons could reach Red Square in Moscow," says Barbin.
Here Vladimir Barbin is referring to Rasmus Yarlov, a member of the Parliamentary Defense Committee from the Conservative Party.
In the Berlingske newspaper, Rasmus Jarlov recently called Tomahawk missiles an "obvious choice" and an "excellent weapon." However, it was the publication, not Jarlov, who pointed out that missiles fired from a Danish frigate in the Baltic Sea could reach Moscow.
Yarlov is not the only proponent of buying missiles. According to TV2, they also occupy an important place in the preliminary wish list of the Ministry of Defense for a new defense agreement.
Within the framework of the last agreement, the issue of the purchase of missiles was also discussed, but it was not implemented. According to Politiken, this was mainly due to fears of a Russian reaction.
What military countermeasures will Russia take in response to Danish cruise missiles?"I am not a military expert, but we will make a general assessment of how to neutralize these weapons so that they cannot harm Russia, our security, people and infrastructure," says Vladimir Barbin.
Has the situation changed radically for Denmark after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine and its aggressive military behavior?"There have never been concrete examples of Russia threatening Denmark's security.
Danish politicians pay too much attention to weapons. Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but I see the militarization of Danish foreign policy," he replies.
Your reaction may be regarded as a threat to Denmark…"This assessment depends on Denmark.
I say what I see," Barbin said.
Ellemann: armament is important
At a press conference after the government seminar at the KolleKolle Conference Hotel in Verles, Defense Minister Jacob Ellemann-Jensen (Venstre Party) commented on Vladimir Barbin's reaction.
"I heard the message of the Russian ambassador. For me, this underscores the importance of rearmament and a reasonable approach to it, as well as unity with our allies," he said.
"This once again shows that for Russia, the law of the strong is a natural law that will operate in the future. We are talking about a country that has invaded the territory of a peaceful neighbor. They attacked Ukraine for no reason, without provocation, because they believe that the strongest is right. Now they will evaluate how we should organize our defense," the Defense minister said. "And I can say that the Russians will be crucial in how we organize our defense."
Rasmus Yarlov also called the Russian ambassador's warning "the logic of a bully", which does not make "any impression" on him.
"If the Russians don't want us to get the missiles, there's all the more reason to buy them. This confirms that this is a powerful weapon that Moscow is afraid of. And we also have to have something with which we can respond if Russia attacks us. And the Russians should not be happy about this," says Rasmus Jarlov and adds.
"Russia has a lot of weapons in Kaliningrad that can be used to strike Denmark. Including potentially nuclear weapons. And therefore it is illogical and unreasonable that we should not have anything with which we could fight back."
A member of the Radical Venstre party, Sophie Carsten Nielsen, emphasizes that the party is not "intimidated" by Barbin's reaction.
"Of course, it is not his statements that will determine our positions. But rather professional recommendations from both the Ministry of Defense itself and experts," she says.
Expert warns of spiral of rearmament
Peter Viggo Jacobsen from the Danish Defense Academy is one of the experts that politicians usually consult when making long—term decisions regarding Denmark's security. In the magazine Ræson, he warned before the start of the special operation in Ukraine that such important strategic decisions as the acquisition of long-range missiles for ships and aircraft could lead to a "spiral of rearmament", which is not in the interests of Denmark.
"There is no doubt that Danish frigates and F-35 fighters equipped with high-precision long-range missiles capable of hitting ground targets will pose a threat to Beijing and Moscow, putting the greatest pressure on them to open fire first in the event of a crisis. Do Danish politicians want to contribute to such pressure in future crises? They should ask themselves this question at the negotiations on the next defense agreement," Peter Viggo Jacobsen wrote.
And even against the background of Russia's aggressive behavior and the special operation in Ukraine, Peter Viggo Jacobsen today points out that there are more compelling reasons why Denmark should not necessarily acquire the so-called "first strike potential".
"Such a powerful weapon as the Tomahawk has many opportunities for a surprise attack — not least in cooperation with the new F-35 fighters. This may cause a kind of spiral of rearmament, including in the Baltic Sea. It is logical that the Russians should find a way to counteract," says Jacobsen.
According to Peter Viggo Jacobsen, there is no certainty that this is a good idea: "we, as a small state, should leave this kind of thing to the discretion of the major powers."
But it's not just a matter of how Russia and other countries will react to the increase in Denmark's weight category in international security policy.
This is what Copenhagen will come to if it acquires what is technically called a "non-nuclear strategic potential".
Since the beginning of Denmark's active foreign policy in the Balkans in the 1990s, the country's armed forces have participated in numerous international missions. The most famous of them are operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Copenhagen always makes decisions after close coordination with the United States.
During tense negotiations taking place away from public attention, the parties agree on their expectations before an official appeal is received from Copenhagen to Washington or vice versa. But the important thing is that Denmark will have the capabilities and weapons that the United States or other allies will need in a particular conflict.
And the situation will change significantly if Denmark really has Tomahawk missiles and other strategic weapons.
"Danish frigates, as an example, can go wherever the United States wants. And if in the future the United States wants to get involved, perhaps, in Syria, Iran or the South China Sea and turn to Copenhagen with a request to provide frigates with a Tomahawk on board, it will be very difficult to refuse," explains Peter Viggo Jacobsen.
"If I were prime Minister, I would not put myself in a position where I would have to refuse the Americans if Washington called. And if we don't have missiles, they won't call," he adds.