The United States has asked Denmark and eight other Nato countries to join a ‘core coalition’ against the jihadist militant group Isis, according to Reuters. 

 

The report states the US Secretary of State John Kerry proposed the coalition on Friday at the Nato Summit in Wales.

 

"We need to attack them in ways that prevent them from taking over territory, to bolster the Iraqi security forces and others in the region who are prepared to take them on, without committing troops of our own. “Obviously I think that's a red line for everybody here: no boots on the ground,” Kerry told the ten nations, according to Reuters. 

 

In addition to the US and Denmark, the other countries invited to join the ‘core coalition’ are Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Italy and Poland. 

 

Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard told DR that Denmark has answered the call. 

 

"We said yes to it at a hastily-called meeting this morning. And we are already active. Fortunately, it was a united parliament that agreed to participate with a transport aircraft with emergency aid and weapons," Lidegaard said from Wales.

 

In addition to its military contribution to the campaign in northern Iraq, Denmark has felt the effects of Isis’s forward march in Iraq and Syria. One Danish hostage was held by the jihadists alongside murdered US journalist James Foley for over a year and another is reportedly in their custody now. One jihadist who fought with the group in Syria has also claimed that Denmark is among Isis's targets. 

 

The past week has also seen an Aarhus mosque express its support for Isis while members of a humanitarian organisation in Copenhagen have been arrested for selling stickers in support of the group.