FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Danish
foreign policy is founded upon four cornerstones: the United Nations,
NATO, the EU, and Nordic cooperation. Denmark also is a member
of, among others, the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund; the World Trade Organization (WTO); the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); the Council of Europe;
the Nordic Council; the Baltic Council; and the Barents Council.
Denmark emphasizes its relations with developing nations. Although
the government has moved to tighten foreign assistance expenditures,
it remains a significant donor and one of the few countries to
exceed the UN goal of contributing 0.7% of GNP to development
assistance.
In the
wake of the Cold War, Denmark has been active in international
efforts to integrate the countries of central and eastern Europe
into the West. It has played a leadership role in coordinating
Western assistance to the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania). The country is a strong supporter of international
peacekeeping. Danish forces were heavily engaged in the former
Yugoslavia in the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR), as well as in
NATO's Operation Joint Endeavor/Stabilization Force in Bosnia
and Herzegovina (IFOR/SFOR) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR).
Danes have at times had a reputation as "reluctant" Europeans. When they rejected ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on June 2, 1992, they put the European Community's (EC) plans for the European Union on hold. In December 1992, the rest of the EC agreed to exempt Denmark from certain aspects of the European Union, including a common defense, a common currency, EU citizenship, and certain aspects of legal cooperation. On this revised basis, a clear majority of Danes approved continued participation in the EU in a second referendum on May 18, 1993, and again in a referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty on May 28, 1998. Denmark has, however, at times also shown strong leadership within the European Union, as it did during its 2002 European Union presidency, when Denmark took a lead role in successful negotiations for the EU’s inclusion of 10 new members from Central and Eastern Europe.
Since September 11, 2001, Denmark has been highly proactive in endorsing and implementing United States, UN, and EU-initiated counter-terrorism measures, just as Denmark has contributed substantially to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. In 2003, Denmark was among the first countries to join Operation Iraqi Freedom, supplying a submarine, a Corvette-class ship, and military personnel to support OIF’s coalition in Iraq. Denmark in the end provided 500 troops to assist with stabilization efforts in Iraq. Denmark withdrew most of its troops from Iraq in August 2007, when Iraqi forces took over security responsibilities in the Basra area where Danish troops had been concentrated. Denmark maintains a small residual troop contingent that supports the NATO Training Mission in Iraq.
U.S.-DANISH
RELATIONS
Denmark is a close NATO ally, and overall U.S.-Danish relations are excellent. Denmark is active in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as a leader in the Baltic region. Prime Minister Rasmussen reaffirmed that Denmark would remain engaged in Iraq even as its troop levels there decline. Denmark and the United States consult closely on European political and security matters. Denmark shares U.S. views on the positive ramifications of NATO enlargement. Denmark is an active coalition partner in the War on Terrorism, and Danish troops are supporting U.S.-led stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. also engages Denmark in a broad cooperative agenda through the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (EPINE)--the U.S. policy structure to strengthen U.S.-Nordic-Baltic policy and program coordination. President Bush made an official working visit to Copenhagen in July 2005, and Prime Minister Rasmussen met with the President at Camp David in June 2006 and in Crawford, Texas in March 2008.
Denmark's
active liberal trade policy in the EU, OECD, and WTO largely coincides
with U.S. interests. The U.S. is Denmark's largest non-European
trade partner with about 5% of Danish merchandise trade. Denmark's
role in European environmental and agricultural issues and its
strategic location at the entrance to the Baltic Sea have made
Copenhagen a center for U.S. agencies and the private sector dealing
with the Nordic/Baltic region.
American
culture--and particularly popular culture, from jazz, rock, and
rap to television shows and literature--is very popular in Denmark.
Some 311,000 U.S. tourists visit the country annually.
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) base and early warning radar at Thule, Greenland--a Danish self-governing territory--serve as a vital link in Western defenses. In August 2004, the Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments gave permission for the early warning radar to be updated in connection with a role in the U.S. ballistic missile defense system. At the same time, agreements were signed to enhance economic, technical, and environmental cooperation between the United States and Greenland.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Although Denmark remained neutral during the First World War, its rapid occupation by Nazi Germany in 1940 persuaded most Danes that neutrality was no longer a reliable guarantee of Danish security. Danish security policy is founded on its membership in NATO. Since 1988, Danish budgets and security policy have been set by multi-year agreements supported by a wide parliamentary majority, including government and opposition parties. In 2007, Danish defense expenditures were approximately 1.3% of GDP.
Denmark has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949, and membership in NATO remains highly popular. There were several serious confrontations between the U.S. and Denmark on security policy in the so-called "footnote era" (1982-88), when a parliamentary majority forced the government to adopt specific national positions on nuclear and arms control issues that were at variance with Alliance policy. With the end of the Cold War, however, Denmark has been an active and supportive member of the Alliance.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--vacant
Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires a.i.--Terence P. McCulley
Ambassador OMS--vacant
DCM OMS--Sue A. Myers
Political/Economic Counselor--William Mozdzierz
Economic Officer--John Rath
Political Officer--Mark Draper
The U.S. Embassy is located at Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark (tel. +45 33-41-71-00). The website contains links to U.S. Government agencies at the Embassy and provides a wealth of information on U.S.-Danish relations.
