In an unexpected alignment of views between Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and former U.S. Vice President JD Vance, both leaders have voiced significant concerns over mass migration into Europe according to Politico.
Frederiksen has openly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic stances, including his considerations of annexing Greenland and his supportive stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine.
However, during a February 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference, Vance highlighted the urgency of tackling mass migration over other threats, including Russia—a position that caught many European attendees by surprise.
Frederiksen, who was present at the conference, disagreed with Vance's underplaying of the Russian threat, maintaining that Russia remains the primary concern for Europe's security.
Elected in 2019, Frederiksen has made significant changes to Denmark’s immigration policies, establishing some of the toughest measures in Europe. These include laws that permit the confiscation of migrants' valuables and the deportation of Syrians deemed safe to return home.
The Danish leader has also been instrumental in implementing the controversial "No Ghetto" law, which aims to dismantle ethnic enclaves by enforcing a mix of ethnic Danes and immigrants in certain neighborhoods.
These stringent policies have faced criticism both domestically and from European peers such as former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who advocate for less restrictive immigration policies.
Despite opposition, Denmark’s unique position within the EU allows it to enforce immigration laws that could be deemed illegal in other member states. This autonomy has enabled the Danish government to pursue a distinct path in handling migration issues.
Additionally, Denmark has proposed relocating refugees to countries outside the EU, such as Rwanda, a plan that has drawn criticism from the European Commission.
Nevertheless, in response to the recent invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Danish parliament made a move to exempt Ukrainian refugees from some of the harsher regulations that affect other migrant groups.
In 2024, under Frederiksen's leadership, Denmark spearheaded a coalition of 20 nations pushing for substantial reforms to the EU's migration and asylum policies. These proposed changes reflect Denmark's firm stance on the need for stricter border control and efficient processing of migrants.
Responding to these pressures, the European Commission introduced a new "Directive on returns," aimed at expediting deportations, indicating a shift towards Denmark’s approach to handling migration at the EU level.
This directive reflects growing concerns among European populations about the impact of uncontrolled migration on public security, local labor markets, and community safety, as expressed by Frederiksen.
Frederiksen has articulated a dual-focus vision of social democracy, emphasizing the importance of the Scandinavian welfare model alongside strict immigration control. She argues that managing migration effectively is essential for maintaining the quality of public services and societal cohesion.
Siding with public sentiment, she stated, "The message that our populations in almost all European countries have tried to send to politicians through the years: Please get in control [of] our borders and be decisive on migration.”