Denmark’s military faces dilemma over training and international missions, says HOD chairman Niels Tønning

Denmark’s military faces a challenging dilemma, according to the officers’ union, HOD, which claims that the armed forces lack the resources to train new soldiers while also participating in international missions. HOD’s chairman, Niels Tønning, suggests that Denmark should inform NATO and other international organizations that it will refrain from sending troops for the next two to three years to focus on building up its own military capabilities.

Since 2019, the Danish Parliament has approved military deployments 11 times to locations such as Mali, the Sahel region, and the Red Sea, as well as contributing to NATO’s heightened readiness in Latvia. However, Tønning insists that Denmark’s military is currently unable to handle both training at home and active international engagement. He emphasizes the need for politicians to be transparent about these limitations.

Experts share Tønning’s concerns. Peter Viggo Jakobsen, a lecturer at the Danish Defence Academy, points out that past capabilities cannot be relied upon today due to significant reductions in military resources. He warns that demanding more from the military than its capacity allows could lead to a decline of the armed forces.

Similarly, Alexander Tetzlaff, a military analyst, notes that the military has been overextended for years and currently lacks the resources to participate in new missions. The transition from F-16 to F-35 fighters will further limit the Air Force’s ability to commit to NATO requests until 2027.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, however, disagrees with the idea of a mission pause, arguing that Denmark can conduct multiple operations simultaneously and ensuring that deployed troops are adequately prepared for their tasks. He emphasizes ongoing discussions about prioritizing funding to balance domestic readiness with international obligations.