Denmark pulls aid to Myanmar in wake of military coup

Development minister underscores that aid will instead be sent directly to the country’s civil society

Six years ago, Denmark congratulated Myanmar on its election of its main opposition party (NLD) – led by iconic dissident figure Aung San Suu Kyi.

Now, the Danes have moved to pull its aid to the state after the military seized power in a coup this week.

“We can’t support the military coup and have thus been forced to halt all development activity that goes to the country via the government,” said the development minister, Flemming Møller Mortensen.

Since 2016, Denmark has pumped around 250 million kroner into the country – 23 million kroner through the government in last year alone. 

Mortensen underlined that Denmark would continue to support aid initiatives that are not government sponsored. 

READ ALSO: Danish aid going to refugees from Myanmar

A fall from grace
The coup has attracted much criticism from the world community, including from the EU, US, UK, Australia, India and the UN.

The country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who famously spent some 15 years under house arrest for her political views, is among the government figures who have been detained.

However, she had come under heavy fire in recent years due to her handling of the Rohingya minority refugee crisis.




  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.