Denmark has voted to join the European Union’s common defence policy, making it the last European country to sign up following Russia’s five-month-long invasion of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, a voter-backed referendum favoured the government’s proposal to join the common security and defence policy (CSDP) by 66.9 per cent to 33.1 per cent.
“Tonight, Denmark has sent a very important signal. To our allies in Europe and Nato, and to Putin,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. “We’re showing that when Putin invades a free country and threatens stability in Europe, we others pull together.”
The war has seen historically neutral countries change their foreign policy outlook, such as Denmark, which secured exemptions from joining the common security and defence policy (CSDP) in a 1993 referendum.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Charles Michel welcomed the result.
Denmark’s decision was a “strong message of commitment to our common security,” Ms Von der Leyen tweeted.
“This decision will benefit Europe and make both the EU and the Danish people safer and stronger,” Mr Michel wrote on Twitter.
This move by Denmark comes as Finland and Sweden applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) last month.
