Denmark votes in referendum on EU defence amid Ukraine war

Denmark joining the EU’s defence policy would have a relatively modest impact on Europe’s security architecture, particularly compared to Sweden and Finland joining Nato

Political leader of The Red-Green Alliance Mai Villadsen hands out flyers during their NO campaign at Noerreport Station in Copenhagen, Denmark (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/AP)

Polling stations have opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union’s common defence policy.

The referendum is the latest example of European countries seeking closer defence links with allies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.