Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard described threats made by Russian ambassador to his country as "unacceptable" after the later said that "everyone who joins" the shield "in the future will be a target for Russian ballistic missiles," the ABC News reported.
Russia's ambassador to Denmark has said Moscow could send nuclear missiles against ships from the Scandinavian NATO country if it joins the alliance's missile defense system.
Ambassador Mikhail Vanin's comments, published in newspaper Jyllands-Posten Saturday, prompted an angry response from Lidegaard.
"I do not think Danes fully understand the consequences of what happens if Denmark joins the US-led missile defense. If this happens, Danish warships become targets for Russian nuclear missiles," Vanin was quoted as saying by the daily.
In August, Danes agreed to contribute to NATO's shield with at least one frigate with advanced radar capacity. Russia strongly opposes the missile defense system, with bases planned in Romania and Poland.