Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to conduct a theoretical analysis of the level of force Danish units can apply in their participation in NATO Operation OCEAN SHIELD in an effort to shed light on questions of application of force in the operation.
Through an analysis of international conventions and national law, this thesis will establish a benchmark for the level of force that can be applied. This benchmark will consist of a number of factors that will serve in the evaluation of the mandate for the operation, the doctrine of Rules of Engagement, and the special circumstances in the operations area. In so doing, this thesis aims to answer the following research question: “What level of force can Danish military units participating in Operation OCEAN SHIELD apply, and will this be an extension or limitation compared to the level of force that the Danish Police would have been able to apply under similar circumstances?”
The thesis concludes that, as a consequence of international and national law, Danish units are in fact under the same rules in Danish law as the Danish Police. However, because of the National and NATO mandate, combined with the use of Rules of Engagement and the circumstances in the operations area, Danish units will, with a high degree of probability, be limited to apply force to a lesser degree than the Danish Police could have done under similar circumstances.