Peter Viggo Jakobsen

Danmarks bidrag FNs fredsbevarende operationer formes af nationale interesser, altruisme og udenrigspolitisk identitet. De opfattes i dag på en måde som udelukker større danske troppebidrag til disse operationer. Danmarks beslutningstagere anser troppebidrag til militære operationer anført af NATOs stormagter som en mere effektivt måde at fremme danske interesser og værdier på. Deltagelse i disse operationer harmonerer også bedre med den krigerkultur som Danmark har udviklet siden afslutningen på den kolde krig

The deployment of ground forces to Helmand (2006-2014) resulted in the worst fighting experienced by the Danish army since its defeat to Prussia in 1864 and more casualties (43 fatalities and 214 wounded) than all other international operations conducted by the Danish armed forces since World War Two. The financial costs were also unprecedented as the total civilian and military expenditures on Afghanistan came to approximately €2.68 billion by the end of 2014. Although some politicians now regard the Afghan war as a mistake and more than half of the Danish population do not consider it worth the financial and human costs, the disappointing outcome of the ISAF mission has triggered remarkably little domestic debate and soul-searching and left little discernible impact on Danish foreign and security policy.