US SECNAV Visited Denmark – Discussed Strengthened Cooperation in the Arctic
From the left: the US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, the US Ambassador to Denmark Alan Leventhal, and Denmark's Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen. (Photo: the Danish Ministry of Defense)
The US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, recently met with Denmark's MoD and military leaders in Copenhagen to discuss the threat from Russia and opportunities for more cooperation in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. He also had a separate meeting with the Faroese MFA.
Last week, Denmark's Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen welcomed US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to Copenhagen, accompanied by US Ambassador to Denmark, Alan Leventhal.
The agenda for the meeting included regional security trends from the Arctic to the Baltic Sea in light of the threat from Russia and the opportunities for increased bilateral cooperation, both at a strategic and operative level, particularly between the countries' navies.
"Maritime defense and security were the focus of the meeting between Carlos Del Toro and Troels Lund Poulsen. Among other things, they discussed strengthened cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic, in which Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands have a particular responsibility for security," writes the Danish Ministry of Defense.
Del Toro also discussed cooperation deepening interoperability with Denmark's Acting Chief of Defense, General Michael Hyldgaard, and the Chief of the Danish Navy, Rear Admiral Henrik Ryberg, aboard the frigate HDMS Absalon.
"The Secretary of the Navy, with a background in the US Navy, also informed about US experiences with unmanned and autonomous systems that the Americans use to a higher degree than Denmark," the Danish Armed Forces informs.
The US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, and the Chief of the Danish Navy, Rear Admiral Henrik Ryberg, meeting the crew of the frigate HDMS Absalon. (Photo: The Danish Armed Forces)
Security policy dialogue with the Faroe Islands
Following the visit to Copenhagen, the US SECNAV was scheduled to go to the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark, to meet with politicians and the commanding officer of the Joint Arctic Command.
As the weather did not allow for landing at Vágar Airport, the only airport in the Faroe Islands, Del Toro had a digital meeting with the Faroese MFA, Høgni Hoydal.
The two discussed security in a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and Del Toro praised the cooperation in connection with American submarine visits to the Faroe Islands in recent years.
"Both parties agree that the Faroe Islands have an important role to play and that direct [security policy, ed. note] communication should be established between Faroese and American authorities," writes the Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Faroe Islands still plan to open a representative office in Washington D.C., and directly emphasizes security policy dialogue with allies in its new Arctic policy, adopted in May:
"It is imperative for the Faroe Islands to engage in effective communication and collaboration with the other allies in the Arctic and the broader North Atlantic to actively contribute to preserving security and stability. In this context, the USA has a prominent role, alongside the UK, Canada, and the other Nordic countries as well as other strong naval allies, each playing a key part in shaping the region's security landscape," says the policy document.
