Danish Missile Crisis Averted: Great Belt Strait Reopens for Safe Passage
On Thursday evening, the Danish armed forces confirmed that the missile launcher on the frigate Niels Juel, located in the port of Korsor on the western side of Zealand island, is no longer at risk of accidentally launching. Consequently, the Great Belt strait has been reopened for navigation and air traffic.
4:24 AM EDT, April 5, 2024
The military has successfully repaired the missile launcher, making the Great Belt strait more accessible.
Earlier in the day, the Danish military had announced the temporary closure of a section of the waterway in the Great Belt, pending the arrival of a technical team to address the issue.
Following detailed examinations, experts have conducted multiple tests on the launcher and confirmed that the danger has been averted.
The bridge remains safe
There was a potential threat that a missile, measuring 14.8 feet in length and weighing 1764 pounds, could unintentionally launch and land 3.1-4.3 miles southwest of its origin. Thankfully, the northbound road and railway bridge remained unaffected by this risk.
The Niels Juel frigate continues to be docked at the naval port in Korsor, with the Danish navy conducting exercises in the strait area until Friday.
Strategic importance of Danish straits for NATO
With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the Baltic Sea has become a NATO-controlled body of water. Despite the Western alliance already having significant influence over this maritime area, the shift in power dynamics further enhances its strategic advantage, primarily through control of the Danish straits.
Around 60 percent of Russia's total sea-based oil exports traverse the Baltic Sea. To reach the ocean, Russian tankers must navigate one of the four Baltic straits: Oresund, Great Belt, Fehmarn Belt, and Little Belt.
Consequently, the European Commission has proposed that Denmark oversee these passages. Such a move would position the Danish straits similarly to the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil passes, regarding their importance to global oil trade for Russia.
This oversight would primarily concern insurance and certifications. The EU imposed an embargo on Russian raw materials transported by sea in December and targeted ship insurance.
