Danish Security Policy

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Danish Security Policy

• Transatlantic relations, NATO and EU
• November, 2006

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Points to make

• Context
• Main challenges
• Transatlantic relations and EU as framework
• Danish Defence opt-out

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1. Context

• Small state
• Cold war Security consumer reactive
• After Cold War Security producer proactive,
  for instance enlargement
• Multilateral framework
• EU - framework for Danish policy
• Transatlantic link
• UN (member of UNSC 2005/6)

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2. Challenges

• Where? Middle East
• All key threats present in ME
• Middle East is in our own neighbourhood
• Future problems from ME trouble spots likely
• What? Terror, WMD etc.
• EES defined key threats as Terrorism,
  proliferation, regional conflicts, organised
  crime, state failure
• Iraq is crucial fundamentalists are hard-core
  moderate vs radical islam
• Iran a main challenge international community
  must stick together
• Afghanistan vital we have to stay until job is
  done
• Israel-Palestine after Arafat a window of
  opportunity what to do with Hamas?
• How? Instruments
• Hard and soft power
• Promotion of democracy, human rights
• Denmark remains committed and engaged

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3. NATO

• Transatlantic cooperation key
• NATO central
• Essential forum for political consultation and
  military cooperation
• Practical cooperation is important
• More than just an alliance
• NATO summit 2006
• Capabilities NRF, common projects
• Make relevant for 21st century (Afghanistan,
  Sudan and Pakistan)
• Global partnerships and training
• Preparing for enlargement (2008)

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4. EU and the ESDP

• EU framework for foreign policy
• Improve ability to speak with one voice
• ESDP
• Supplement to NATO (civilian-military
  combination)
• Has experienced a fast development 1998, 2003,
  2006
• Makes a difference in security terms
• Lack of capabilities (and political will?) to
  perform high-intensity tasks

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5. Defence opt-out

• Denmark fully in favour of ESDP!
• Opt-out Danish problem
• Can only be revoked after referendum
• Implications increasing
• Operations (Macedonia, Congo, Bosnia)
• Headline goal, Rapid response, Battle Groups
• European Defence Agency and civil-military cell
• Future Joint operations, Africa