Army Denmark - Esbjerg Harbor must be expanded to be a NATO hub

Saithan

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The expansion of the port means that Denmark's security policy role is changing, says an expert.

Denmark must be able to receive significantly more NATO forces and materiel, and therefore the Port of Esbjerg must be expanded.
This is what it says in a press release from the Ministry of Defence.

Here they write that the expansion is due to the war in Ukraine, which places "new demands on Denmark as a host country".

- With the decisions that are now being made, the Port of Esbjerg will become a new hub for security policy. We are improving NATO and allied forces' access to Esbjerg Harbor so that they can be distributed around Europe, says Defense Minister Morten Bødskov (S), according to Ritzau.

On Monday, the minister will therefore sign a coordination agreement with a number of partners to develop Esbjerg Harbour.
It happens on the same day that 44 US military helicopters arrive with cargo ships from the US at the port.

A new security policy role​

The expansion of Esbjerg Harbor means that Denmark's security policy role is changing.

This is what Lars Bangert Struwe, Secretary General of the Atlantic Association, tells us:
- We are becoming what you call a host nation . This means that we are not directly a front-line state, but if NATO's most north-eastern flank is to be reinforced, Denmark has become the point where the reinforcements are sent in, and then they are sent on.

Here, the Port of Esbjerg and some of the Danish airports will be absolutely decisive, it says.
At the same time, enlargement also has a more symbolic value for NATO.

- One of the key things in NATO is deterrence, so that we can show a possible enemy that we are ready. And with something as impractical as having a port that can actually receive reinforcements, we send an important signal, says Lars Bangert Struwe and adds:
- This is not that Denmark is buying 400 new planes, but it is a message that we are ready to help.

American interest​

Interest was already shown in Esbjerg Harbor as a military hub back in May, when the Minister of Defense visited the harbor to investigate the possibilities.
It was the United States that first expressed their interest in using the port as a hub when NATO forces have to land troops and machinery on European soil in the future.

This is due to the port's size, location and infrastructure, which is a good starting point for sending allied forces to the Baltic Sea area and the Baltics.

The Americans have used Esbjerg Harbor in the past, among other things in connection with exercises. Military equipment and forces have also been sent via the West Jutland city.
In April, for example, 300 American military vehicles arrived at the port.

The Minister of Defense has previously expressed hope and expectation that the improvements to Esbjerg Harbor can be ready by the end of 2023.

On Monday at 1 p.m., Morten Bødskov will hold a press conference about the new agreement. In addition to the Minister of Defence, Environment Minister Lea Wermelin (S) will participate, among others.

The 44 military helicopters that will arrive in the West Jutland city on Monday will initially go to Esbjerg Airport. From here they will go on to several European countries, where they will replace American units.

 

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