On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Danish government announced a new military plan to bolster its defense presence on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea by establishing a new combat infantry battalion. The decision, described by observers as a major shift in regional defense policy, drew an immediate response from Russia, with Moscow vowing to monitor the military movements and take "technical countermeasures.".
Reinforcements for Bornholm and 5,000 new army personnel may be sent outside Denmark.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced at a press conference that the government will radically restructure the armed forces in light of the "fragile security situation," explaining that the size of the armed forces will increase from 23,000 to 28,000 personnel. A new infantry battalion will be established specifically for Bornholm, a move aimed at strengthening the military presence in the Baltic region.
Poulsen explained that the official assessment issued by the Defence Intelligence Service (FE) does not indicate a direct military threat to Denmark, but he stressed the importance of preparedness and readiness to deal with any emergency in light of the fragile security situation.
Peter Viggo Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Danish Defence Academy, believes the creation of the new combat battalion in Bornholm is part of a “general strengthening of Danish defense.” He told TV2 Bornholm that “the battalion’s mission may not be limited to protecting the island, but could potentially be used in other areas, such as Latvia, as part of Denmark’s NATO commitments.”
Russia responds: We will place the Danish island under surveillance.
The Russian response was swift and sharp. The Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, described the move as “a deliberate militarization of Bornholm under the false pretext of a Russian threat,” emphasizing that Moscow “has never had aggressive intentions toward Denmark.”.
Barbin said in a written statement published via Telegram and reported by TV2:
“The desire to make the island a stronghold against Russia demonstrates Denmark’s commitment to the growing confrontation in the region… The Russian side will be monitoring military activity in Bornholm to develop military-technical measures to counter potential threats, including the protection of Kaliningrad and freedom of navigation in the Baltic Sea.”.
Bornholm in the spotlight: “A potential weak point”
According to TV2, political analyst Hans Engel described the government's announcement as a "major event" in the history of the modern Danish army, noting that the focus on Bornholm has "strong political and security justifications" as the island is "highly vulnerable" in the event of a conflict with Russia, especially since it is located in the heart of a strategic region in the Baltic.
