Although
Denmark remained neutral during
World War I, its rapid occupation by
Nazi Germany in
1940 persuaded most Danes that neutrality was no longer a reliable guarantee of Danish security. Danish security policy is founded on its membership in
NATO. Since
1988, Danish defense budgets and security policy have been set by multi-year agreements supported by a wide parliamentary majority including government and opposition parties. However, public opposition to increases in defense spending--during a period when economic constraints require reduced spending for social welfare--has created differences among the political parties regarding a broadly acceptable level of new defense expenditure. Current resource plans are based on the
1995 defense agreement covering the period 1995-
1999. The average percentage of Danish
GDP absorbed by defense in
1996 was about 1.5%.
Military branches:
Royal Danish Army[?], Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force[?], Danish Home Guard[?] (Danish: Hjemmeværnet)
Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,299,250 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,113,378 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 30,471 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.822 billion (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (FY98)
- See also : Denmark