Russia's ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, reacted directly when the plans were presented last week:
"The Russian side will monitor the military activity on Bornholm to be able to take necessary military-technical countermeasures", he wrote in a comment to Danmarks Radio.
It is about, according to the ambassador, "meeting possible threats to Russia's security, including the Kaliningrad region, and against the free navigation in the Baltic Sea".
Throughout the 2000s, Bornholm has lacked its own regiment. At Almegårds barracks, located on the outskirts of the central town of Rønne, there has instead been a reconnaissance unit, continuously sent on international missions.
There is a great symbolic value in having a territorial defense on Bornholm, says Esben Salling Larsen, military analyst at Denmark's Defence Academy.
"Can deter"
As part of the rapid buildup, Denmark is buying coastal robots that can be fired from land, and frigates will be equipped with new robots.
Altogether, it can deter the Russians, says Esben Salling Larsen.
Almegårds barracks were built up after World War II, when the Soviet Union, which had liberated Bornholm from the Nazis, also left the island in April 1946. Old German and Russian barracks were reused.
— You can actually see the difference — this one is Russian. On the Russian ones, the planks are horizontal, on the German ones, they are standing, says Hans Lundsgaard when he shows around the area.
The fact that they are still standing today is telling for the state of the barracks.
The barracks appear old and worn out. Now that we know it will stay and that it will be Bornholm's regiment, massive investments must be made.
"The first they take"
Bornholmers TT talks to express satisfaction that their island will be invested in, but several wonder if a regiment will be enough.
Anna Karlsen in Allinge thinks that Bornholm has an exposed location.
It is the first they will take. If there really is war, we cannot do anything at all.
Camilla Forsbom thinks that it is good that Rønne is being revitalized with a lot of new employees and conscripts at the regiment, but she thinks that the buildup is a bit exaggerated.
Many of us who live here on Bornholm cannot see that we are more exposed than others.
The Danish army will grow from today's 23,000 to 28,000 employees by 2033 and the number of conscripts will increase from 4,700 to 6,500. Female conscription is introduced and general conscription is extended from four to eleven months.
Earlier this year, the Acceleration Fund was established, where corresponding to 73.5 billion Swedish kronor is allocated to arm the Danish defense this year and next year.
"Buy, buy, buy" is the appeal to Denmark's supreme commander from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S).
Today, the Danish army consists of two brigades and nine regiments.
Bornholm's regiment will be the tenth regiment. How many employees and conscripts it will accommodate has not been communicated yet.
Sources: Ritzau and DR
