Denmark society faces a fundamental shift in wartime property rights as Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen introduces legislation allowing military forces to seize corporate and public property during conflicts. The proposal expands current laws that only permit expropriation of individual citizens' property. Read more: 100 Prison Beds Freed as Denmark Expands Ankle Monitor Rules. Read more: Denmark Expands Ankle Monitor Sentences to One Year.
Corporate Assets Now Military Targets
The new framework would grant Forsvaret (Denmark's Defense Forces) authority to commandeer schools, sports halls, warehouses, ports, and airports from businesses, organizations, and public authorities. Current regulations create what the Defense Ministry calls an "inappropriate" limitation by protecting corporate assets while leaving private citizens vulnerable to property seizure.
Rasmus Dahlberg, a security lecturer at Roskilde Universitet, explains the strategic necessity: "If Forsvaret needs accommodation for 2,000 American soldiers transiting through Denmark, it cannot work if the local kommune says no. The defense minister must be able to say 'I need those three schools, and I need them now' with the law backing him."
The legislation specifically mentions housing "foreign support contributions" in requisitioned facilities, according to DR. This reflects Denmark's role as a NATO transit hub where allied forces require rapid deployment infrastructure.
Vague Emergency Powers Raise Questions
Beyond traditional warfare, the proposal introduces "extraordinary circumstances" as grounds for property seizure. The Defense Ministry's legal team admits no "clear and unambiguous definition" exists, describing it generally as situations where "state freedom of action and security are threatened without actual war occurring."
Dahlberg identifies hybrid warfare as the driving concern: "Russia can conduct hybrid warfare against us while we don't reciprocate. This forces us to handle war-like conditions with peacetime legislation." The asymmetric nature of modern conflicts requires legal frameworks flexible enough to address unconventional threats.
The proposal represents what Dahlberg calls a "return to Cold War command and control" after Denmark dismantled its civil defense system in the 1990s. EU Emergency Management Capacity already involves deployment teams from nine member states, suggesting broader European coordination on emergency property management.
Constitutional Balance Under Pressure
Folketinget (Denmark's parliament) will debate the proposal on February 27, weighing military necessity against property rights. The legislation promises "full compensation" for seized assets, but the speed of wartime decisions may complicate fair valuation processes.
The timing reflects broader Nordic security concerns as traditional close relations with Washington intensify amid regional tensions. Denmark's strategic geography makes it a critical NATO logistics hub, requiring legal tools that match operational demands.
Expect fierce parliamentary debate over the "extraordinary circumstances" clause, with opposition parties demanding precise definitions before granting such sweeping executive powers.