Denmark pursues an active foreign policy combining Danish core values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law with a willingness to act. Based on these values, Danish foreign policy aims at increasing international security and stability, ensuring the greatest possible economic progress and prosperity and promoting the respect for democracy, human rights and good governance.
A balanced military, humanitarian and civilian approach is part of Danish foreign policy. Denmark’s development assistance per capita is among the highest in the world. Denmark has been one of the countries most active in deploying peacekeeping forces. Moreover, Denmark took an active part in NATO’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999 and in the international military operations in Afghanistan and in Iraq.
Efforts have thus been made to link the objectives of promoting security and stability with efforts to promote democracy, development and reconstruction. From a Danish point of view, security and development must go hand in hand. This is why the Danish foreign, security and development policies are interlinked.
Water project in the Badakshan province in North-East Afghanistan, where Danish soldiers are working to provide security and assist reconstruction.
Photo: Otto Sørensen
Multilateral cooperation is of great importance to Denmark – not only as a way of promoting Danish priorities, but also because international organisations are the town halls of the world, facilitating dialogue among nations and collective solutions. Denmark works actively and in a constructive manner through international organisations such as the EU, NATO, the UN and the WTO, which are at the core of Denmark’s international engagement. The purpose of this engagement is not only to make the voice and opinion of Denmark heard, but also to enhance the effectiveness of these important organisations. In addition, Denmark participates actively in the Nordic cooperation.
The Vikings conquer England: The Viking raids, which began in the late 8th century, were made possible mainly by the superior Nordic shipbuilding technique. The first known raids were the arrival of three Viking ships in a Southern English port in 790 and the pillaging of Lindisfarne monastery in 793. In the late 9th century, the Anglo-Saxon King Alfred the Great had to pay fees to the Danes and in 980 Sweyn Forkbeard started regular raids on the English coasts. For a time, the Danes were bought off, but Sweyn Forkbeard’s conquest of all of England in 1013 and establishment of the Danish royal house there made Denmark a leading power in the North Sea and the Baltic. This position was maintained until the union with England was dissolved in 1042. During this time, many Danes immigrated. Lorenz Frölich: Fees are paid to Sweyn Forkbeard. Painted 1883. Frederiksborg Museum.
Globalisation is challenging Danish companies to change and develop in step with the increasing competition all over the world. According to the Trade Council of Denmark, Eastern Europe offers companies an excellent opportunity to outsource advantageously. Among others, Danfoss has moved part of its production to a factory near Warsaw. The picture shows young Poles applying for jobs at Danfoss.
Photo: Peter Emholt, Scanpix.
Globalisation is at the very centre of Danish foreign policy. Political, economic and environmental issues related to globalisation are all part of the Danish foreign policy agenda. In recent years, Denmark has been involved in several crucial foreign policy events associated with globalisation. Overshadowing them all was the Cartoon Crisis in 2006, but there were also other important events, for example the conflict in Lebanon in 2006 and the subsequent evacuation of Danes from the country, the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and the Doha negotiations.
Globalisation produces new opportunities and threats, and it creates a new framework for foreign policy. With new communication channels, trade and investment intensity has increased. However, it has also furthered political globalisation with the rise of new non-governmental players and serious cross-border problems such as terrorism, climate and environmental problems. The new challenges posed by globalisation often require solutions that individual countries cannot bring about on their own. Globalisation is by no means an uncontroversial process. On the contrary, globalisation creates winners and losers – also within countries. In order to turn globalisation into a win-win situation, where all people and countries are able to benefit from it, Denmark works towards improving the rules and regulations in a globalised world.
In 2006, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a major study of the effects of globalisation on the role of diplomacy and the tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The study concluded that the Danish Foreign Service must further increase its focus on the key challenges of globalisation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now implementing the recommendations from the study (“Diplomacy in a Boundless World”1 ) in order to enable Denmark to continue to pursue an active foreign policy with the aim of promoting international peace and development, stability, democracy, human trade. As part of this work, Denmark is strengthening its foreign service by opening new missions in the Middle East and North Africa (4), Latin America (1) and Australia, as well as reinforcing its embassies in China and India.
1. The study (and its 123 recommendations) was published in October 2006 under the title: “Diplomacy in a Boundless World – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Globalisation”. http://www.um.dk