Denmark's geostrategic location makes it a key player in the Euro-Atlantic safety arena, despite the comparatively tiny size of the state. Denmark lies on the edge of the Jutland Peninsula and its territory covers many islands. However, the most strategically crucial for NATO are the Danish Straits – Skagerrak, Kattegat and Sund – which connect the Baltic Sea with the North Sea. These straits play a fundamental function in controlling maritime traffic between the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic. They are the only maritime way for the Baltic Sea countries – Sweden, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia – to open ocean waters. Control of these straits allows monitoring and possible simplification of maritime traffic, which is peculiarly crucial in the context of rising tensions with Russia. In the event of a conflict, the ability to close the Danish Straits could be crucial for reducing Russian maritime activity in the region. Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark, which is of large geostrategic importance, especially in the context of the Arctic, must not be forgotten.
