The Danish Defence Forces prevented the publication of a critical article in 2020 that would have revealed the army’s inability to meet NATO requirements. This concealment allowed the Social Democratic government to continue claiming, falsely, that a key army unit would be ready for NATO deployment by 2024.

The article, written by a freelance journalist, highlighted significant shortcomings in the readiness of the 1st Brigade, including a lack of air defense, insufficient logistics, and ammunition shortages. Brigadier General Henrik Lyhne, then commander of the brigade, stated in the unpublished article that he “could not dream of leading the brigade into battle without protection against aircraft”.

The suppression of this information created a “culture of untruth” within the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces, where individuals feared professional repercussions for speaking openly about the true state of affairs. This culture allegedly led to the misrepresentation of the brigade’s readiness to both the Danish Parliament and NATO.

The decision to build the 1st Brigade, a medium-weight army unit of 4,000 soldiers, was made in 2018 in response to NATO demands. The brigade was intended to be Denmark’s primary contribution to NATO’s defense against potential Russian aggression. However, the project suffered from severe underfunding, with the allocated budget of DKK 4.4 billion falling far short of the actual cost, which eventually exceeded DKK 27 billion.

The Defence Command’s decision to scrap the critical article raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the Danish Defence. Critics fear that similar instances of concealment could undermine Denmark’s ability to meet future NATO commitments.

Today, Denmark is taking steps to address the shortcomings in its defence capabilities, including establishing an ammunition factory and reinforcing the 1st Brigade. However, the government now promises that the brigade will not be ready until 2032. This delay raises questions about Denmark’s ability to fulfill its obligations to NATO and maintain a credible defence posture.