PM delivers blunt message on European defence (Danish PM)

Copenhagen Post ^ | March 27, 2003 | Copenhagen Post

[pierrem15]

PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned fellow EU countries that joint defence is still realistic, but urged continued military cooperation with the US

The Danish government will support a series of small steps to reinforce the EU's joint foreign and security policy this autumn, when member nations begin the dirty work of negotiating a new constitutional treaty for the European partnership.

Denmark will neither contribute to majority-rule resolutions on defence, nor move to withdraw the military defence of Europe from the NATO alliance with the US, Rasmussen said Monday at an EU conference at Copenhagen's Industriens Hus.

The prime minister warned against cutting EU security policy loose from a US partnership. Many domestic politicians, notably members of the anti-war Socialist People's Party, have begun to urge a complete abandonment of all US-European defence cooperation to protest US foreign policy.

Rasmussen said Monday that Europe has a long tradition of depending on the US to pull the region out of sticky situations, both during the Second World War, and during the Balkan conflict of the last decade.

The PM said that Denmark, as a small country, has a particular interest in maintaining its defence partnership with the US.

‘Who else could guarantee our security? Could France - could Germany? There's only one power on this earth that can: the United States of America,’ said Rasmussen. [bold added here]

Rasmussen said that Denmark's position in support of the US-led war in Iraq would garner a stronger profile, thanks to EU expansion.

‘The Eastern European countries know from their own histories, that their security has not been fully guaranteed by the major European nations, but by the US,’ said the prime minister.

[pierrem15]

Chirac forgot that the balance of power plays inside Europe as well.

[Billthedrill]

The Danes also told the Turks "invade Iraq and we'll veto your EU membership." Good for them. I get the impression that very few people in Europe are entirely convinced that "Chiraq" is their rightful leader...

[ambrose]

bump

[geedee]

As a proud American, I've grown so accustomed to being slapped that a "speck of respect" leaves me nearly speechless. It's nice to see that the Danish PM "gets it."

[McGavin999]

Great! Danes! :o)

[ellery]

bttttt

[DakotaGator]

I've got a better idea. Abandon NATO, ditch Europe, and stand by those who have stood by us during Iraq.

[kosta50]

that a "speck of respect" leaves me nearly speechless

And Danmark is just that -- a speck. Their support makes me feel sooooo much safer -- they have contributed a submarine to the war effort.

But you are wrong -- we get respect from such mighty states as Polinesia, Slovenia (1.2 million people), Estonia and Albania -- and Danmark is not much larger (or taller) than a football field. They love us.

Gosh, how did we aver get anywhere without them?

[geedee]

LOL.

[walden]

Hey, I wouldn't be so sarcastic-- I am grateful that there are still some nations in the world that haven't gone completely nuts.

[Pafreedom]

Maybe they remember the old days

[Shermy]

‘Who else could guarantee our security? Could France - could Germany?

Seems to me "Germany" is the threat to the Danes.

[Pafreedom]

Sorry, here it is.

They might remember this.

http://www.tessie.com/freep/preslinc.jpg>

[CarmelValleyite]

The Danes like us. They even celebrate OUR Fourth of July! Really!!!

[CarmelValleyite]

Check your history -- the Danes REALLY stepped up to the plate in WWII, for example. They harbored many, many Jews, and there's even a wonderful museum devoted to The Danish Resistance in Copenhagen. They may need us more than we need them, but don't be so quick to dis Denmark!

[BfloGuy]

that a "speck of respect" leaves me nearly speechless

Your disrespect of a country that supports the U.S. leaves me nearly speechless.

Its support may not change what we do in our best interest, but it's not to be sneered at.

[DB]

Ditto.

[skraeling]

>Their support makes me feel sooooo much safer

Can you say "Ugly American?"

[Othniel]

They also make Legos, which I buy a lot of for my kids, bypassing the various things that are made in China. This PM sounds like he's got his head on straight.