Denmark is arming up with a sea mine arsenal and building a fleet of 25 new military vessels because the Russians are up to no good in their backyard – and Putin apparently doesn’t care who notices.
At a Glance
- Denmark is acquiring 25 new naval vessels including mine-laying ships to counter increasing Russian threats in the Baltic Sea
- The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force has activated “Nordic Warden,” using AI to track Russian shadow fleet vessels threatening undersea infrastructure
- Denmark is increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP, adding $7.2 billion over two years
- Recent damage to the Estlink2 cable may have been caused by a Russian tanker attempting to bypass international sanctions
- Denmark is expanding its Arctic naval presence to counter growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region
Russia’s Shadow Fleet Pushes European Nations to Breaking Point
While the Biden administration continues its four-year vacation from reality, at least our European allies are starting to wake up to the very real threat Russia poses to Western infrastructure. Denmark just announced plans to fast-track the purchase of drones, mine-laying vessels, and specialized equipment to monitor and defend subsea infrastructure from the increasingly aggressive Russian presence in the Baltic Sea.
It would be nice if our own administration showed half this much concern about foreign threats instead of deploying the full might of the federal government against parents at school board meetings.
This naval buildup isn’t happening in a vacuum. The damage to subsea cables like Estlink2 is raising serious alarms throughout Europe. According to reports, a Russian tanker attempting to bypass international sanctions may have been responsible for damaging the critical power connection between Estonia and Finland. Rather than waiting for more “accidents” to occur, Denmark is taking the radical step of actually defending its territory – a novel concept Washington might want to consider at our own southern border.
NATO Allies Unite to Track Russia’s Movements
The Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK, has activated what they’re calling “Nordic Warden.” This system uses artificial intelligence to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor Russia’s shadow fleet. It’s fascinating how quickly European nations can mobilize to protect their borders and infrastructure when faced with an actual threat, while America’s ruling class seems to think border security is an optional feature of nationhood.
“Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change, which is why this government is working closely with our allies to protect critical national infrastructure, such as undersea cables.”, says Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Nordic Warden monitors 22 areas of interest, including parts of the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat, and Baltic Sea from JEF’s headquarters in Northwood. The system provides real-time monitoring and sends warnings to JEF nations and NATO Allies if a risk is detected.
The UK has already sanctioned 93 oil tankers used by Russia to bypass sanctions and fund its war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, our own administration can’t seem to stop buying Russian oil through third parties despite claiming to support sanctions. Funny how that works.
Denmark’s Arctic Strategy Reveals Greater Ambitions
Denmark isn’t just concerned about the Baltic Sea. They’re significantly expanding their Arctic naval presence to counter growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region. This includes acquiring four marine environmental and mine-laying vessels, 21 other ships, new warships, and long-range drones specifically for Arctic security. It’s a clear message to both Moscow and Beijing that Denmark intends to maintain sovereignty over Greenland and its surrounding waters – something the U.S. should be actively supporting instead of letting China buy up land across America.
“The naval battlefield is characterized by a more complex risk and threat picture than before”, says Troels Lund Poulsen.
Denmark’s commitment is backed by serious money – they’re increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP with an additional $7.2 billion over two years. Other countries in the region, like Sweden and Norway, are making similar moves to bolster their military capabilities. Sweden and Finland have abandoned decades of neutrality to join NATO, clearly indicating just how seriously they’re taking the Russian threat. If only America’s leadership showed this level of clarity and commitment to defending our own strategic interests instead of funding endless foreign wars while leaving our own borders wide open to invasion.
