the Danish Defence Intelligence service (FE) has just published its annual risk assessment that includes an analysis of the major threats to Denmark.
Risikovurderningen has been presented at a press conference Friday morning.
It is not terror or cyber attacks, there is the greatest risk area for Denmark, concludes the new report.
It is, however, the situation in Greenland and the Arctic, there is a greater focus than in the past.
– It is still the government’s policy to maintain the Arctic as a region of low tension. But I think that it is clear to all, that the approach is challenged, said defence minister Trine Team (S) to TV2 earlier on Friday.
The priority of the Arctic and Greenland happen few months after the us president, Donald Trump, aired the possibility of buying the Greenland.
the Announcement created great controversy, and Mette Frederiksen was during a visit to Greenland quick to reject the president’s offer.
Subsequently canceled the us president’s planned visit to Denmark.
According to the FAIRY, Denmark is challenged by both the US, Russia and China a priority area in the Arctic is much higher, which increases the stress levels in the region.
Becoming a challenge for Denmark
FE notes among other things, by Russia’s increasing military build-up in the region, especially important as the global warming makes the Arctic becomes more accessible.
‘Russia prioritizes the Arctic is very high and has major security and economic interests in the region. Russia’s military buildup in the Arctic is defensively motivated, but, increasingly, elements that can also be used for offensive operations,’ it says in the report.
China has previously shown interest in investing in Greenland’s natural resources and infrastructure, and in the risk assessment last year concluded that FE, too, that China’s desire for influence in Greenland and the Arctic would probably grow in the future.
the major powers ‘ increased interest in the region, according to FE affect Denmark’s planned Arctic. According to the security service, it becomes a challenge for Denmark to balance the interests of its allies and the Danish strategic interests, when Denmark must continue to stick to the ambition of a low voltage level.
Last year, it was the threat of cyber attacks, which was the major focus of the security services. FE described how cyber attacks were a growing threat against Denmark, but that in the short term would be less likely that foreign states would make destructive cyber attacks against Denmark.
But cyber attacks are no longer the main focus of the secret service, but both it and the terror is still a threat to Denmark, concludes the FE in the new risk assessment.
FE describes the continuing terrorist threat as serious.
You can read the full assessment here.
