Initial results show Danes vote to join EU defense policy

By JAN M. OLSEN
Associated Press

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark appears headed toward joining the European Union’s common defense policy that it long eschewed, partial results from a referendum indicate, in a new example of a European country seeking closer defense links with allies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The electoral commission said that with ballots fully counted in 25 of 92 electoral districts, 64.2 % voted Wednesday in favor of abandoning the country’s 30-year opt-out from the common EU policy, and 35.8% against. Two separate exit polls issued after voting ended forecast similar results. The referendum follows historic bids by fellow Nordic countries Sweden and Finland to join NATO — something to be taken up at a summit next month.