SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. First, let me just say I’m so delighted to welcome Foreign Minister Rasmussen here to the State Department, to the United States, and for this, I think, very important occasion. We’ve had the opportunity, Lars and I, to spend a fair bit of quality time at NATO and other places, but it’s particularly good to have you here in Washington. For nearly 75 years, the United States and Denmark have been close security partners and NATO Allies. Our forces are working to protect communities from terror in the Sahel. We’re upholding freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz. We’re strengthening deterrence together in the Baltics. Denmark continues to play a leading role in ensuring Putin’s war on Ukraine remains a strategic failure. It was one of the first countries to commit to supplying F-16s to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them. Earlier this month, Denmark pledged to provide $1 billion worth of tanks, drones, ammunition, and to jointly fund the donation of new Swedish armored personnel characters – carriers, excuse me – all of which will help Ukraine defend its territory and its democracy. Our countries together are committed to enabling Ukraine to stand on its own, to stand on its own strongly – militarily, economically, democratically. That’s why President Biden’s supplemental budget request is so critical, and why we’ll continue to work with Congress to pass it. The Defense Cooperation Agreement that we’re about to sign will further strengthen security collaboration between our two countries. When it takes effect, our militaries will be able to coordinate more effectively, even more effectively than they already are. Our troops will train together more seamlessly and more often. We’ll enhance NATO’s interoperability, allowing our Alliance to better safeguard peace and stability […]
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