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Denmark promises US to go ‘hard’ after Isis

The Local Denmark
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Denmark promises US to go ‘hard’ after Isis
US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter (L) shakes hands with Danish Defence Minister Peter Christensen before a bilateral meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday. Photo: AFP/POOL/ Virginia Ma

In a meeting with his American counterpart, Danish Defence Minister Peter Christensen promised that Denmark is committed to a long, hard fight against the terror group Isis, even if that means carrying out missions in Syria.

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Denmark joined the international coalition fighting Isis in October 2014 and Danish F-16s flew 547 missions over northern Iraq, dropping over 500 bombs, before the jets were brought home for repairs
 
Although Denmark’s efforts have thus far been confined to Iraq, the government has sent numerous signals that it is willing to expand operations into Syria when the fighter jets are ready to return to action sometime early this year. 
 
In Brussels on Thursday, Christensen told US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter that Denmark’s military would go wherever it is most needed. 
 
“We had a good discussion about where Denmark can best contribute,” Christensen told reporters after the meeting. 
 
“The goal is to fight the Islamic State. It is a long and hard battle, and Denmark is ready to take responsibility,” he added. 
 
 
Christensen’s meeting with Carter was one of more than two dozen meeting the US secretary held with allies in Brussels. He was looking to shore up support for the American-led coalition as his colleague, Secretary of State John Kerry was in Munich engaging in peace talks aimed at finding a solution to the long-raging Syrian Civil War. 
 
According to a report from Reuters, Carter’s mission was to convince the US’s allies to step up the military campaign against Isis, regardless of the outcome of the peace talks.

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