Denmark meets NATO’s 5% defense spending target early

Denmark has already met NATO’s requirement to invest 5% of GDP in defense and security by 2035, Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus (S) announced at a press conference ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.

The government had previously pledged to reach the target by 2030, but recent investments—including the purchase of two new patrol aircraft for Greenland and the Arctic—have accelerated the timeline, Bruus said.

NATO raised its defense spending target to 5% of GDP in June 2025, with at least 3.5% allocated to core military tasks and 1.5% to broader security-related expenses. Bruus stated that Denmark exceeds the 1.5% threshold, while its 3.5% compliance depends on whether Danish or NATO calculations are used.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) emphasized the need for Europe to increase defense spending to protect its populations and societies, stating, “From Denmark’s side, we deliver.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted that European members and Canada have increased defense spending by 20% in the past year, totaling over 1.6 trillion DKK. He called for stronger transatlantic cooperation with defense industries to convert funds into concrete capabilities.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared a “new era for European security,” citing doubled defense spending and a revived defense industry creating jobs in Europe.