Denmark is ready to increase military spending, the nation's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said after speaking with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 16.
Trump frequently criticized NATO allies during his campaign for not paying enough for their own defense and said the United States was paying a disproportionate amount.
Denmark spends about 1.2 percent of its economic output on defense -- like many other NATO members, falling short of the 2 percent target set by NATO.
But Denmark, Poland, and other European nations since Trump's election have indicated a willingness to increase spending.
"The government is setting the stage for increasing spending on military and national security," Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen, whose one-party government only holds 34 of 179 seats in parliament, called his conversation with Trump "friendly and constructive" and stressed that Denmark is a close ally of the United States.
He noted that Denmark is contributing to the fight against the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq.
"We need a strong United States that will head the free world. I feel convinced that the United States will also in the future take on this role," Rasmussen said.