In a new chapter of Denmark’s commitment to European defense, the Danish government announced that the funds obtained from the sale of 24 F-16 fighter jets to the Argentine Air Force will be donated to Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defence of Denmark, the proceeds—equivalent to approximately 600 million Danish kroner (around 86 million dollars)—will be transferred in 2026. This will be complemented by an additional allocation of 3.8 billion kroner (about 545 million dollars) to the Ukraine Fund, reinforcing Denmark’s role as one of Kyiv’s leading European allies in terms of military assistance.
Since the beginning of the conflict with Russia, Denmark has maintained sustained support for Ukrainian defense, contributing more than 70 billion Danish kroner (roughly 10 billion dollars) between 2022 and 2028. In this regard, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen emphasized that “support for Ukraine’s defense also contributes to the defense of Europe and Denmark,” highlighting that the continent’s security largely depends on Ukrainian resilience. With the recent expansion of the fund and the donation derived from the F-16 sale, Denmark expects its total contribution to Ukraine in 2026 to reach 14 billion Danish kroner (close to 2 billion dollars).
It is worth noting that Denmark will reach defense spending equivalent to 3.5% of its GDP in 2026, positioning itself among the most committed members of NATO. This measure is part of a strategy aimed at the accelerated modernization of its Armed Forces, focused on strengthening European defensive capacity amid the current geopolitical landscape. Since March 2023, Denmark has channeled its support through the Ukraine Foundation, a mechanism that manages military, humanitarian, and industrial cooperation with Kyiv and that has been replicated by other partners of the European Union under the so-called “Danish model.”
Meanwhile, the sale of 24 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to the Argentine Air Force, formalized in April 2024, represented a turning point for Argentina’s defense. The contract signing at Skrydstrup Air Base, attended by then-Defense Minister Luis Petri and his Danish counterpart, consolidated a deal valued at around 300 million dollars, which included training, logistical support, and simulators, with the backing of the United States as facilitator of the agreement.
The destination of the funds generated by the sale to Argentina is particularly noteworthy, as Denmark decided to redirect them to Ukrainian defense. The measure reflects not only a decision of significant strategic weight but also the complex interconnection between European and Latin American defense programs within an international context shaped by the Russia-Ukraine war—a conflict that continues to cast its shadow over the stability of the continent, with its end still distant.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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