King Frederik’s New Year’s address warned that “not everybody wishes us well”, as he linked Europe’s security climate to what he described as anonymous attacks in the “grey zone between peace and conflict”. Delivered on 31 December — the King’s second New Year’s address since he became head of state in January 2024 — the speech connected Denmark’s long experience of peace with the war in Ukraine, hybrid threats such as drones and cyber incidents, and cohesion across the Kingdom of Denmark.
Hybrid threats “between peace and conflict”
A central theme of the speech was the idea that security risks can be disruptive even without open conflict. The King said that “something is changing” and that “not everybody wishes us well”, warning that anonymous attacks in the “grey zone between peace and conflict” aim to “stir up unrest, sow discord, and frighten us”.
He listed concrete examples: “websites that suddenly crash”, “deceptive videos spreading distrust”, and “drones appearing in the sky as diffuse warnings”. While he did not name any perpetrator, the message was that hybrid threats can erode trust and feed anxiety.
The answer, he argued, is not to turn off the news flow, but to “stay informed without allowing fear to dominate our lives” — staying watchful without “dancing to the tune of the wrong people”.
Ukraine, and why Europe’s security feels closer
The King made the war in Ukraine one of the speech’s defining reference points, noting that “only a few thousand kilometres from Denmark, the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom”. He said that for nearly four years Ukrainians have “held out, stood their ground” and insisted on their right to exist as a free and independent country.
He warned that the war “spreads uncertainty” across Europe, arguing that what is at stake goes beyond the battlefield: the right to security, independence and sovereignty on the European continent. He added that Ukraine “has never wanted war” and therefore “deserves peace”.
Denmark, Finland and Latvia: security is not a given
A notable section of the address looked to countries whose historical experience with insecurity remains more immediate. The King described Finland as an example of a country that can “bear in mind the worst-case scenario without putting life on hold”, adding that “the threat from the east has never lost its momentum” for Finns.
He also referred to Latvia, recalling his first visit as a student in 1992 and the perspective offered by a society emerging from decades of occupation. Denmark, he suggested, has been safe for so long that many people have “almost forgotten that things could be different” — an assumption he implied is now being challenged.
NATO, the armed forces and a message to conscripts
Alongside geopolitical references, the King devoted significant attention to Denmark’s security institutions, thanking deployed personnel and those “guarding our country — not least the police, the emergency services and the defence forces”.
He also addressed conscripts directly: “Thank you for rising to the occasion and stepping up for our community.” The King linked this to plans to strengthen the defence, “both in terms of duration of military service and personnel”.
In one of the most concrete lines of the speech, he said “the right to military service has changed to becoming a mandatory duty for everybody in Denmark”. He also highlighted Greenland’s new Arctic Basic Training programme in Kangerlussuaq, presenting it as part of a “more varied and, consequently, stronger defence”.
Greenland and the Faroe Islands at the centre of the address
The King devoted substantial space to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, thanking both for welcoming royal visits and praising Greenlanders’ “strength and pride” in what he called a “turbulent time”.
The address also used everyday imagery — including Faroese chain dancing and the idea that there is “always room for one more person” — as a way to talk about inclusion and belonging.
While focused on the Kingdom, the King placed Denmark’s cohesion in a wider framework: “Our greatest strength is to stand united – in the Kingdom of Denmark, in Europe and in NATO.”
Craft, work and community in a digital age
In the final third of the speech, the King shifted to a domestic theme that has become more prominent in Denmark: the status of vocational training and skilled trades. He praised young apprentices and skilled workers, arguing that in an age where “information is one click away” and many tasks can be performed immediately, craft trades remain in demand.
The wider point matched the speech’s tone: resilience is not only about defence policy, but also about social cohesion, pride in local communities, and recognition of work that keeps society functioning.
How Denmark’s defence debate could sharpen in 2026
Danish commentators described the speech as a noticeable shift in tone. DR’s royal commentator Thomas Larsen called it “strong” and “coherent”, arguing it may stand as a testimony to the serious times Denmark and Europe are living through — and highlighting that the King paired a clear threat picture with a message of cohesion.
DR’s history and royal correspondent Cecilie Nielsen also emphasised the Kingdom dimension, pointing to Greenland and the Faroe Islands as central to the address and suggesting the speech aimed to offer reassurance after a turbulent year. At TV 2, historian Line Bjerre noted that the “family father” tone from the first address was more muted this time, with the King stepping more clearly into a traditional head-of-state role — something she linked to the strong focus on security and the military.
Taken together, the reactions underline how the address landed in Denmark’s public debate: as both a warning about hybrid threats and a call for unity. With defence, conscription and preparedness set to remain high on the agenda in 2026, the King’s framing is likely to be cited again — especially when discussions turn to how Denmark, Europe and NATO respond to a more uncertain security environment.
