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).
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 hostile parliamentary
majority forced the government to adopt specific national positions
on nuclear and arms control issues. With the end of the Cold War,
however, Denmark has been supportive of U.S. policy objectives
in the Alliance.
Danes
have 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.
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 the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and the neighboring countries. In 2003, Denmark was among the first countries to join the "Coalition of the Willing" and supplied a submarine, Corvette-class ship, and military personnel to the coalition's effort in Iraq to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1441. Since that time it has provided 500 troops to assist with stabilization efforts in Iraq. Prime Minister Rasmussen announced in February 2007 that most Danish troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by August 2007, as Iraqi forces had become capable of taking over security responsibilities in the Basra area, where the Danish troops had been concentrated.
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 2006, Danish defense expenditures were 1.4% of GDP according to a NATO estimate.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--James P. Cain
Deputy Chief of Mission--Sandra L. Kaiser
Ambassador OMS--Jan Scott
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.
