Denmark is prepared to raise its defense spending target to 3.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and allocate an additional 1.5% to other security concerns. This commitment was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen ahead of meetings with Nordic and Eastern European leaders in Vilnius.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte proposed the increase to member countries before the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June. The proposal is viewed as a compromise to address demands for increased defense spending among member states.

The current NATO target is 2% of GDP. Many NATO countries are potentially already spending the additional 1.5% on a broad spectrum of security-related areas, such as infrastructure and cybersecurity. Rutte emphasized that NATO countries must spend “much, much more” on defense.

Frederiksen noted that Denmark has already increased its defense spending from 1.3% of GDP to over 3%. The government has established an Acceleration Fund totaling DKK 50 billion in 2025-2026 to further boost defense investments.

Part of the fund will support the development of the 1st Brigade, designed to operate as an independent unit within NATO, and DKK 4.6 billion will be invested in the navy. According to intelligence services, increased investment is vital, because Russia’s military development may enable them to attack countries other than Ukraine in a few years.