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UKRAINE

Denmark likely to make decision on fighter jets to Ukraine ‘before summer’

Denmark's defence minister said Tuesday he expected the Danes and allies to decide on whether to donate Western fighter jets to Ukraine "before the summer"

Denmark likely to make decision on fighter jets to Ukraine 'before summer'
Denmark and other countries are likely to make a decision on whether to donate F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine by this summer, acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen says. Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

Discussions are taking time because countries have to act together, acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said during a visit to Ukraine.

“Denmark will not do it alone,” Lund Poulsen told several Danish media outlets, adding that a decision was still achievable “in the near future.”

“We need to do this together with several countries. We will also have a dialogue with the Americans about this,” the minister said.

Slovakia and Poland began deliveries of Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in late March and early April.

Warsaw has said it is ready to give away all of its MiG-29s — around 30.

But despite requests from Kyiv, no modern fighter jets such as the US-designed F-16 have been pledged, and Washington has so far said it would
not send fighter jets.

The Netherlands and France have not ruled out sending jets and in February Britain offered to train Ukrainian fighter pilots.

Denmark has a fleet of 43 US-designed F-16s, 30 of which are in active service.

The fleet is being replaced by the more modern F-35, of which Denmark has purchased 27.

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MILITARY

Denmark to command NATO fleet from Norwegian vessel after ship malfunction

Denmark has assumed command of NATO's standing naval fleet from a Norwegian vessel, following technical issues with its own frigate, the Iver Huitfeldt.

Denmark to command NATO fleet from Norwegian vessel after ship malfunction

The Danish Armed Forces confirmed the move in a statement, adding that Denmark will continue to lead the alliance’s naval force during the second half of 2024.

Initially, Denmark was set to lead NATO’s fleet using the Iver Huitfeldt as the flagship.

However, following a mission in the Red Sea in March, when the frigate experienced system failures and defective ammunition during an attack, the vessel was deemed unfit for further deployment.

As a result, Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen informed the Danish parliament in June that the frigate would not be available for sailing service.

Norwegian support

In response to the frigate’s issues, Denmark offered to fulfil its NATO obligations from Danish naval stations.

However, the command responsibilities have now been transferred earlier than planned to a Norwegian ship.

The head of Denmark’s Naval Command, Henrik Ryberg, thanked Norway for accommodating the Danish force commander’s contribution.

“I am very happy that the Danish force commander has now been given the opportunity to come aboard the Norwegian ship. I would like to thank our Norwegian partners for making this possible,” Ryberg said in the statement.

The transfer of the Danish force commander’s duties to a Norwegian unit was always part of the plan, the Armed Forces noted, but is now happening two months earlier than originally scheduled.

Media coverage of malfunction led to dismissal of defence chief

The Iver Huitfeldt’s system failures came to light only after defence media outlet Olfi reported the incident, leading to significant fallout within Denmark’s military leadership.

This included the dismissal of defence chief Flemming Lentfer and the appointment of Hyldgaard as the acting defence chief.

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