Foreign politics and censorship in Denmark, where I have lived off and on for 35 years, is actually worse than in the United States today. Not one of the 16 political parties with members in the 179-seat Danish Parliament (follketing) supports Russia’s reasons for its “Special Military Operation” (SMO) in Ukraine. All support NATO and spending unlimited billions for military weaponry.
Nor are there any non-Parliament political parties or civil organizations supporting Russia, not even Communist or Trotskyist parties. Yet there are many real leftist groupings in the U.S., and there were some actions against the “proxy” Ukraine-Russia war until Gaza took over interest and priority.
Some ethnic Danes, native-born Muslims and Muslim immigrants protest the genocide, while the three-party government and all but two little parliamentary parties support Israel. In September, the government finally called for a Palestinian state on several conditions: Hamas surrenders and returns all hostages; Hamas has no role in politics or any government; and a Palestinian state has no military, is democratic and is “on a reform track.”
These conditions are not only arrogant but reminiscent of Denmark’s colonial days. These demands cannot be met anyway since Palestinians left alive are unable to organize any sort of state apparatus.
There was even an arms fair last August with seven Israel weapons firms selling their wares and Danish weapons sold to Israel. The weapons festival was held at the invitation of Denmark’s military.
Two parliamentary parties complained about Israel’s participation. What was the Danish government’s explanation? “We need to quickly rearm for national security to meet the Russian threat.”
Denmark is considered by many to be a well-functioning, social democratic welfare state, a peaceful country where nearly everyone is happy—number two in the 2025 “happiest people in the world” survey, just behind Finland, followed by Iceland and Sweden, with Norway in 7th place.
Nevertheless, Denmark was one of a dozen countries to back the U.S.’s NATO initiative in 1949. Nineteen thousand new buildings related to NATO were built, including underground tunnels for political and economic leaders, before 1991 with the end of the Soviet Union.
Although Denmark’s government and all its political parties, except the Communist Party, accepted Nazi occupation during World War II, the state historically has not welcomed foreign troops on its soil. That is, not until the Joe Biden administration tested the will of the Russian people and their popular President Vladimir Putin in the build-up to what became the current war in Ukraine.
In late 2021 and early 2022, NATO rattled its swords at Russia’s borders. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky demanded acceptance into NATO with a green light from most NATO countries. Russia offered peace terms, which were rejected out of hand.
(For a full account, see Covert Action Magazine’s six-part series: “Scandinavians, the World’s Happiest People, Love Killing for the USA.”)
On February 7, 2022, Biden told a White House news conference: “If Russia invades [Ukraine], then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it…I promise you, we will be able to do it.”
It was Norway-U.S. navies, and the CIA with Sweden-Denmark back-up, that did Nord Stream in. This was the single most damaging air and sea polluting catastrophe ever, besides costing billions of dollars in losses to the owners: Russia 51% of the original Nord Stream 1 project, while Germany holds 15.5%, and the Netherlands and France each hold 9%. Russia’s Gazprom is the only shareholder of Nord Stream 2, but several European companies provided financing. (Read Seymour Hersh.)
That one heinous act set in motion a spiral of economic downfall for European nations, most notably Germany, the former number one European economy. The current government is sounding like another Nazi regime, and so do the so-called UK Labour Party and Macron in France.
Three days after Biden’s threat, Denmark’s Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that Denmark would break from its rather peaceful history over the last two centuries by inviting U.S. troops to be stationed permanently at three Danish military bases.
“Denmark and the USA have a special bond—a strong community of values. Since the end of World War II, the USA has been Denmark’s most important ally, and the guarantor of our security and safety through NATO…That is why we are starting concrete negotiations with the USA on a new Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA)…with closer Danish-American cooperation.”
This agreement, signed December 19, 2023, is similar to that in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The DCA will mean 47 U.S. bases either alone or as part of already-existing national bases: Sweden 17, Finland 15, Norway 12, and Denmark 3.
Two weeks later the Special Military Operation was initiated.
Although U.S. troops have yet to land, they are expected soon. The initial ten-year agreement—which allows no possibility to change the status—includes provisions for no prosecution of any U.S. personnel for whatever crimes they might commit; and no national investigation of what arms are brought, albeit the government says it does not allow nuclear weapons. (Sweden is prepared to have nuclear weapons.)
We need not be reminded that Danish governments in the 1950s-60s were not informed that the U.S. stationed nuclear bombs on its territory in Greenland.
On January 21, 1968, a U.S. B-52 bomber carrying four nuclear bombs crashed onto the sea ice of North Star Bay, Greenland, due to a cabin fire caused by “human error.” The crash resulted in the detonation of conventional explosives and the nuclear payload, leading to significant radioactive contamination. Danish workers and inhabitants were exposed to high levels of radiation during the clean-up, which resulted in numerous cases of cancer and deaths.
Ever since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Denmark has proudly striven to be the number one country financing it per capita, which it has obtained. It is also number four in absolute expenditures. The latest Foreign Ministry figures (published September 12, 2025) show $12 billion spent for a population of six million. That is $2,000 per person. It is also four times its defense budget as of a year ago.
According to EU figures from August, the EU has spent $186 billion, committed $54 billion more, and has “immobilized” $3.9bn Russian assets kept in western finance institutions for Ukraine. More than $300bn Russian funds have been “immobilized” and might be used to kill Russians and Ukrainians.
The U.S. has appropriated $184 billion for a population of 340 million, according to the March 2025 Department of Defense figures. That is $410 per person.
Before the war began, Denmark spent less than 2% of GDP, which was then the goal of NATO countries. In 2021, it was 1.3% ($5.2 billion); today, it is 3.22% ($15.4 billion).
In June 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that NATO countries spend 5% of GDP on defense, yet the U.S. only spends 3.4%.
The German Kiel Institute for the World Economy shows 41 of the 57 Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) donors spending $335 billion dollars as of June 2025. The Kiel Institute’s estimate of the U.S. contribution is $54 billion less than the U.S. government figures. These figures do not include the many billions more that private organizations, and private individuals have sent nor what 16 other governments spend.
These are the dozen UDCG countries providing funds/weapons in addition to 29 NATO countries. Australia, Austria, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and India. Australia, Austria, Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, and India.
Japan is by far the greatest donor at $12 billion and $3 billion more allocated. Australia is next with $1.4bn; followed by Switzerland with $1.08 billion. Perhaps the total is around $20 billion.
The More Absurd the Propaganda the More Convinced Is the Population
Last June, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen started preparing the public for direct war with Russia by announcing that everyone must stash enough food-water-medicines, and other necessities for three days. People must take care of themselves as all government levels will be defending the people against the enemy.
The government and mass media often remind us of that necessity but, in September, this became part of nearly daily cost. We must imitate what Sweden and Norway are doing: form a week of “Crisis Preparedness” in schools.
Swedish schoolmates Melker Nilsson and Tristan Svendsen practice what they will pack in a crisis if electricity, water and communication fail. (See this nine-second video):
“It can happen at any time, but Sweden hasn’t been at war in a long time [1814] so we don’t know when something will happen,” says 11-year-old Melker Nilsson.
His classmate, Tristan Svendsen, adds: “It can just as well happen when we sleep. So it’s good to know, ‘I am ready, I can handle myself.”
This year 90% of Sweden’s 290 municipalities and at least 273 associations and organizations signed up for emergency preparedness week with lectures, rescue exercises and house events. Danish disaster and security experts say Denmark should be inspired by this model. It is on a growing list of “emergency preparedness” matters.
Norway is also preparing for war, instructing civil society with 100 points, including “protection rooms.”
Last February 11, Denmark’s equivalent of the CIA (Defense Intelligence Service/FE) went public with an undocumented warning that Russia would invade all of Europe within five years if it wins over Ukraine.
The Defense Intelligence Service claims that Russia will invade another neighboring country within six months once it has overtaken Ukraine. Then it will test NATO’s resolve within two years by invading a NATO country. Next stop, all Europe. No evidence is presented. The warning only states that Russia is producing more weaponry. Quite natural, one could surmise, given that it is at war with NATO-backed Ukraine.
Are we really to believe that Russia will invade 30 European NATO countries with approximately two million troops and rising, and six hundred million inhabitants? The United States would probably be involved no matter who is president. Today, the U.S. has 2.1 million active military and reserves.
Russia has 140 million people and 2.4 million military personnel. Just in late September, President Putin called up 135,000 more to active duty.
The total number of warships and aircraft in the world is incalculable.
How could Russia possibly be planning to overtake all of Europe when today it has lost around 250,000 soldiers with another 700,000 casualties, according to the pro-U.S. government Center for Strategic and International Studies? https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-battlefield-woes-ukraine.
In July, The Guardian calculated perhaps 100,000 Ukrainian military killed with another 300,000 casualties.
Civilians number around 50,000 killed or injured.
Russian hackers say 1.7 million Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded or are missing.
Daily Brainwashing Par Excellence
We are bombarded with anti-Russian, anti-Putin propaganda on a daily basis by the government and all mainstream media.
On any given day, the main television network, state-sponsored DR (television, radio, online print) has two or three Ukraine-Russia war programs. One deals with where the two sides are fighting, gaining or losing territory. Participants are military officers and military think tank professionals. They and hosts never question the need for more military assistance to Ukraine.
Another is called “Debate” with only one side presented. One of its favorite experts is a consultant for Terma, the main weapons-producing corporation. There are now 500 firms making weapons or parts. When I arrived, in 1980, there were only a handful.
Some people have demonstrated a few times against Terma at its headquarters but they protest only its sale of weapons to Israel and not to Ukraine.
Schools do not even allow teachers to discuss if Russians might fear that the U.S. and NATO are edging into Russian territory with the intent of taking over. Soon after the SMO began, a history professor at the “People’s University” was fired for simply explaining to his class what Russia states as its reasons for the war.
History Professor Jens Joergen Nielsen was fired after four teachers walked out, because he taught there, and one of his students contended that he was too “pro-Putin.”
Nielsen has written three books on Ukraine and Russia. He knows their languages, and taught there for eight years. He spoke against Russia’s invasion, but he explained what motivated Russia. Both sides were taught. He was then placed on Ukraine/CIA’s “peacekeeping” (Myrotvorets) hit list, as is CAM’s managing editor. Many of the people listed have been murdered.
It would require a book to show all the propaganda about the Russians and how they lust for more territory albeit they live in the world’s largest country, and much of it has yet to be explored. Below are some September days that illustrate the fear-mongering being created.
September 3: PM Frederiksen invited all eight Nordic and Baltic government heads, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, to meet the day before the “Coalition of the Willing” met in Paris. The war ceremony occurred at Marienborg, the official residence of Denmark’s PMs.
They declared: “Putin does not want peace…Russia poses a long-term threat, not only to Ukraine but to the security of Europe, the transatlantic community, and the wider international order.”
“We will step up military support to Ukraine. We underline the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and air defense systems. In this regard, we support a newly created PURL initiative to finance high-priority American weapons for Ukraine….Denmark, Norway and Sweden will jointly fund one of the first weapons packages under the new initiative Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List (PURL) No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries.”
“The Danish Government has initially decided to contribute with approximately 90 million USD for the initiative. Together with Norway and Sweden, Denmark will finance a package with a total value of 500 million USD.”
This is on top of tripling its budget for national “defense” and funding the Ukraine war within the last year.
In Paris, 35 “coalition of the willing” state leaders met. Twenty-six decided to send troops to secure Ukraine once there is a cease-fire or, perhaps, before. Those willing to send troops include: England, France, the three Baltic states, five Nordic states, the Netherlands and faraway Australia. They are to “deter” Russia.
September 3: Also on that day, the Danish government announced that it is building a factory by the military Skrydstrup airport near the town of Vojens. Skrydstrup is where most of Denmark’s F-35s are located and where the U.S. will have one of its military contingents.
This is the first time that a NATO country has invited a Ukrainian firm to produce weaponry on its soil.
The Ukrainian company Four Points is behind the project. It is best known for developing the 3,000-km range Flamingo cruise missile.
Four Points and Denmark will provide a couple of hundred workers. They will produce rocket fuel and parts for at least two types of ballistic missiles, FP-7 and FP-9. These missiles will be transported to Ukraine, and will fire them at targets deep inside Russia. FP-7 has a range of 200 kilometers at a speed of 1,500 meters per second. FP-9 has an 855-kilometer range at 2,200 meters per second.
Left unstated was whether any fuel or parts will be made for the Flamenco in Denmark. Nevertheless, Denmark is considering buying those missiles and or U.S.’s Tomahawk, which has the same range. Denmark has put up $80 million for the project to begin in December.
Following the announcement, the defense and finance ministers invited hundreds of local citizens to explain the project and waylay any qualms. Apparently, the public was impressed and supportive.
The media reported the response of Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin: “Denmark is determined to continue the bloodshed in Ukraine. If Ukraine produces rocket fuel for cruise missiles on Danish soil, then it is increasingly difficult not to consider Denmark a direct participant in the conflict. The Ukrainian side has stated very openly that these missiles are intended to carry out attacks deep inside Russia.”
September 9: The parliament overwhelmingly granted Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen the admittedly “far-reaching” power to decide where any military installations may be placed or extended, including new ones to be built. This makes null and void the laws protecting the environment and the rights of land/house owners to protest.
This act is also in anticipation of the upcoming landing of U.S. troops and weaponry to be housed permanently on Danish soil.
September 9: Poland says Russia sent drones against it. The mainstream media failed to inform Danes that Belarus notified Poland and Lithuania that some unarmed Russian drones affected by Ukrainian electronic warfare were off course and would enter Poland. Belarus intercepted some. Russia said Poland admitted the drones were not armed, but they shot down four of 19 and, in so doing, caused the only damage there was in destroying a house. No one was injured. Russia said it did not send those drones, rather that Ukraine did.
September 17: The government for the first time decided to buy, and construct, long-range precision missiles to “deter” Russian attacks.
September 22: The government’s Security and Preparedness Ministry announced plans to have all Landowner Associations gather members for crisis/war preparedness.
DR news showed how the first Landowners Association has begun to teach members how best to prepare for war: neighbor-to-neighbor gathering information and necessities. One of the instructors fought against Afghanistan and Iraq, and has been in Ukraine. The implication could be that he fought there as a mercenary.
Real estate agencies will also carry the association’s preparedness material.
The news also showed two F-35s flying to Bornholm to calm its 39,000 residents, who live closest to Russia, 425 kilometers to the city of Kaliningrad.
Following DR news, the popular Evening Show taught us how to prepare for such crises. Other than hoarding rations, how do we get to shelters from WWII, or how to build shelters nearby.
September 22-26: Dozens of drones of various sizes popped up over civilian and military airports. Some were in the air for four hours the first day. Earlier reports of the like turned out to be that the “drones” were sun reflections, but this time they were real, meant the government and media.
The question is raised by the mainstream media and politicians: Should unannounced drones be shot down? The hard-core right says yes. Middle-of-the-roaders point out that, when Poland shot down a drone, its own missile destroyed a Polish house.
Media wanted to know if Trump would support Denmark if it shot down drones. On September 24, Trump said to a reporter, with Zelensky beside him, that, if Russian aircraft violated European airspace, it was okay to shoot them down. Apparently, Trump is now gung-ho for the “coalition of the willing” to take over and win the war.
September 26: The key tabloid newspaper Ekstra Bladet went bananas, with the headline “Drone Catastrophe-Denmark Humiliated” to start its seven pages of text and photos with front and back cover—one-fourth of the newspaper. Its reporters sharply criticized the government-military management for not either shooting them down or intercepting them, or knowing where they came from or where they went.
A Russian military ship was close to Denmark in international waters, which the newspaper photographed from a rented helicopter. Headline sub-editors had a field day. One headline read: “Taken with pants down.”
Some of the coverage suggested shooting them down, but a cautious voice was heard from one of an often-used military think tank expert, Viggo Jakobsen. He said, “The Russians are clearly not out to attack but only to tease.”
PM Frederiksen said. “I will not reject that Russia did it. There were also drones over Oslo. This is a serious attack against us.”
A police spokesperson said: “A capable actor is behind this. But shooting them down would not be wise, because of serious consequences.”
September 27: More unannounced, unknown drones circle over some airports. This time, the government said that airport owners, and other infra-structure owners, could shoot them down. The government is ready to propose a law to Parliament.
Finland has also offered to send a detachment that is trained in “identifying and countering drones such as those encountered” to Denmark for the October 1 EU meeting on security. Top security includes blockades, limited entry in or around security areas, no demonstrations, air and sea surveillance and restrictions, and police associates coming from other EU countries.
October 10, 2025: In addition to my figures of war costs earlier in this article today Denmark’s government proudly announced it has taken the step to buy yet another 16 F-35 from Lockheed Martin. It will lay out $29 billion Danish kroner. At today’s rate that is $4.5 billion. That means each jet costs $280 million.
That will provide Denmark with 43 F-35s. Of the original 27 purchased in 2016, six have yet to arrive and six shall remain in the U.S. for Danish pilot training.
Depending on the type of F-35 at today’s costs vary starting at $100 million. In 2016, Denmark spent between $80-85 million per jet. It was not possible to determine why each jet bought today should be worth $280 million.
Conclusion: We Must All Be Fearful of Russians
Yet none of the good, alternative U.S. media I read even mentions what Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia are doing to continue the war until they win, so they foolishly portend. World war, with nuclear weapons abounding, does not deter their bravado.
Hundreds of Finnish and U.S. soldiers line up along the 1,340-kilometer Russia-Finland border. Russians remember that Finland fought alongside German Nazi military inside Russia. Yet I just heard a media host say that Finland has a long animosity with Russia, because it fought “two defensive wars” (Winter War 1939-40 and Continuation War 1941-44).
Finns today, and Scandinavians generally, including otherwise intelligent and peaceful Icelanders, are as hard-core “coalition of the willing” as other European states, which always get mentioned in the U.S., as far as I can surmise, while Scandinavia is non-existent. I can only hope that Bernie Sanders lovers, who heard him speak of Denmark as his ideal “socialist” nation, could read this and wake up.
P.S.—As I prepared to send my article, I received a 1,919-character text message on my 14-year-old non-smart Nokia mobile phone asking that I send $14 to Ukraine’s Youth Red Cross against bombs and fire. This is the first ever such intrusion sent to my ancient communication tool, and confirmation of one of my main points in my piece: total surveillance with brainwashing bombardment.
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About the Author
Ron Ridenour is a U.S.-born author and journalist, anti-war and civil rights activist since 1961. After joining the U.S. Air Force at 17, he saw the inner workings of U.S. imperialism first hand and resigned. In the 1980s and 1990’s he worked with the Nicaraguan government and on Cuban national media.
He now lives in Denmark and, in addition to writing a dozen books, has served as a special correspondent and freelance investigative journalist for many publications in the U.S. and several Latin American and European countries—among them: The Morning Star, New Statesman, The Guardian (U.S. and England), Playboy, Liberation News Service, Pacific News Service, Coast Magazine, Qui, Skeptic, Seven Days, and Pacifica Radio.
CAM co-founder Philip Agee wrote commentaries to two of his dozen books: Yankee Sandinistas: Interviews with North Americans Living and Working in the New Nicaragua, and Backfire: CIA’s Biggest Burn. See also: The Russian Peace Threat: Pentagon on Alert and Winding Brook Stories at Amazon and Lulu. Other work can be found at ronridenour.com.
Ron can be reached at ronrorama@gmail.com.
