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What happens if we vote YES? | Defense reservation | DR Are you in doubt about what to vote for on 1 June? Here, two experts give you an idea of what consequences it can have for Denmark if you vote JA. can either be placed next to YES or NO to abolish the defense reservation that Denmark has had since 1993. Roughly speaking, the defense reservation means that Denmark in the context is outside when cooperating on the military and defense. We do not know which missions to launch - nor can we participate with either soldiers or money. On June 1, voters must take a position on the Danish defense reservation. The reservation means that Denmark does not participate in those parts of the EU's foreign and We do not participate in EU military operations, do not fund them or make soldiers or weapons available. The reservation also means that we do not have the right to vote in the Council of Ministers when dealing with defense policy. about a defense policy in the EU. A majority of you would like to change that, while a minority argues that we must continue to do things as we have done since 1993. But what does this really mean for Denmark's role in European defense co-operation? , if the vote on 1 June ends with a YES from the Danish? Read two experts' bids below.1When representatives from the's meet and discuss defense policy, Denmark has k as a starting point a chair at the table. But the person sitting in it does not have the decisions that are made at the meeting. Therefore, Denmark has largely participated in other defense alliances and missions around the world since we voted in the reservation, says Rasmus Brun Pedersen, who is an associate professor at Aarhus University and expert in international politics and the Danish defense reservation. - We have been very active under the auspices and in this way compensated for the fact that we are not active under flags. In particular, we have participated in security policy missions with France and the United Kingdom in smaller alliances between European countries. In concrete terms, this has meant that on several occasions we have participated in missions where the task is similar to those who also perform, he says. can participate in and influence the joint missions that the countries are together on. However, this does not mean that Denmark's role overnight will be radically changed, assesses Derek Beach, who is a professor at Aarhus University and an expert in International Affairs, and .- A yes will basically mean that Denmark will have a new course to play on when it comes to defense and. It gives us the opportunity to participate together with the others in, and it may perhaps be especially in areas such as cyber security and missions against piracy that Denmark could conceivably get on board first. But at the same time, there are also areas where we are already active through other collaborations, he says.2 When it comes to and European cooperation, the word sovereignty often acts as the elephant in space. Because will Denmark decide less itself if, for example, we abolish the defense reservation and participate in cooperation? The short answer is no, says Derek Beach. - Each member state has the right to say no to the missions that they can not see itself be a part of. In this way, a country like Denmark will not be able to be forced into missions or cooperation if we do not support them ourselves. At the same time, it requires unanimity among all before a mission can be approved, so we can also close down against a given defense project, he says. But it will require a treaty change, which also can not happen without the consent of all countries, says Derek Beach. risks making decisions over the heads of smaller countries such as Denmark. Before that can happen, however, everyone must say yes to removing the rule of unanimity - and therefore it seems in my view very unlikely - but not completely impossible, he says. In Denmark, several party leaders on the YES side have promised that a decision Russia's invasion of Ukraine plays a key role in the fact that Russia's defense and right now is extremely topical in all. The changed threat picture is of great importance to either to abolish or keep Denmark's defense reservation. But there are also other significant reasons why the reservation must now be reviewed, says Rasmus Brun Pedersen. - The USA has for a long time made it clear that they want to withdraw from the very protective role , they have had in Europe since World War II. must therefore adjust to being more "alone at home" when it comes to defense and security, he says and continues.- As a result of the security policy vacuum that the US leaves behind when they change focus towards China and Asia in the long term , laid out a new strategy in 2016. 'S missions and co-operation on defense are now focusing more on tasks within Europe's borders. This is stated, among other things, by one from the Danish Institute for International Studies from 2019 - and has been reinforced by the war in Ukraine. borders. A thought that is partly true, assesses Derek Beach. even though things have changed in. Basically, it is about whether we as a country want to participate actively in defense cooperation in, or whether we would rather continue to enter into other cooperation and solve security policy tasks in that way, he says. If you would like to come yet closer to what the defense reservation is - and why Denmark has it - you can see in the video below. All you have to do is press play.