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The Danes arrive in Barkhane at the end of the year

(B2) The Danish government announced on Thursday (28 February) that it had decided to participate in the French operation Barkhane in the Sahel.

A Danish army EH 101 Merlin helicopter in Afghanistan (credit: the defense)

The Danes will provide two type transport helicopters AW101 (EH101) Merlin and up to 70 people who should be deployed from the end of 2019 for approximately twelve months. The Danish contingent would thus replace the British.

A situation in the Sahel that worries the Danes

« The security situation in Mali and throughout the Sahel region is worrying. Denmark must step up its involvement and help ensure that terrorist groups are deprived of their movements Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen said in a statement. " Terrorist groups in the Sahel region threaten our common security. This is why we join forces with France to defeat them added his Foreign Affairs colleague Anders Samuelsen.

A contribution to Serval...

Denmark had already contributed in 2013, to Operation Serval in Mali, by providing a transport plane. But he had never brought military capabilities to Barkhane. The Danes will thus relay or join the British and the Estonians already present on the spot, and the Spaniards who provide regular support to the operation from Senegal.

...and to the Minusma

Denmark has also regularly provided personnel and equipment to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), in particular by participating with several European countries (Germany, Netherlands, etc.) in the supply on a rotational basis of C-130 transport aircraft or special operations forces (with the Dutch contingent).

Parliament consulted

According to the rule in use in Denmark, the government consulted the foreign policy committee of its parliament. ATPrior to deployment, he will have to present a resolution to his Parliament for it to be accepted.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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