Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts

Denmark continued to strengthen its Arctic and North Atlantic security focus this month with the announcement of five new defence attaché positions, including one in Canada.

Denmark’s Ministry of Defence said Ottawa and Copenhagen’s shared interests in places like the Arctic made Canada a natural choice to be among first five new positions announced.

“The Arctic and North Atlantic is a vast region and the responsibility cannot be covered by one nation alone,” Denmark’s Ministry of Defence told Eye on the Arctic in emailed comment.

“The Kingdom of Denmark will prioritize engagements with partners who share the aim of maintaining the Arctic as a safe and low tension region.”

In addition to shared northern interests, Canada’s leadership of the NATO battle group in Latvia, where Denmark has previously contributed battalions and will be doing so again this year, underscores the importance of placing one of the new positions in Ottawa, the Ministry of Defence said. 

“As close Allies in NATO, Denmark and Canada share mutual security interests, not only in the Arctic and North Atlantic, but also on deterrence and defence of the Baltic states, where we are cooperating closely in Latvia,” the ministry said.

Denmark initially revealed plans for five new defence attaché positions as part of their first partial defence agreement under the Danish Defence Agreement 2024-2033, saying there was a need to bolster Danish presence in critical geographic regions amidst changing global security dynamics.

Defence attachés are direct representatives of Denmark’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces and are stationed at Danish embassies around the world where deemed necessary.

They also act as liaisons between Denmark and defence sector and report to Danish authorities about military and defence policy developments in the country of their posting.

Importance of Euro-Atlantic security

In addition to Ottawa, the other newly created positions will be in Oslo; a new assistant defence attaché at Denmark’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York; and two extra assistant defence advisers at Denmark’s Permanent Representation at NATO.

“The main tasks for the Danish Defence in the Arctic is to enforce the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, to defend the Kingdom’s interests and to contribute to the deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area,” the ministry said.

“We do this in close cooperation with the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and as ever within the framework of NATO.”

All five new defence positions are expected to be filled before the end of the year.

The ministry said it’s currently finalizing details of the new defence attaché role in Ottawa, including Canada-specific responsibilities.

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