Denmark joined a group of nations Friday whose ships will receive fuel from the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Indian Ocean support mission, the Foreign Ministry said.

Denmark will be the eighth country after the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and Pakistan to receive refueling aid from Japan.

"Its extremely important that democracies in the world work together" against terrorism, Danish Ambassador to Japan Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin said at the Foreign Ministry.

Denmark has been involved in NATO-led ground operations in Afghanistan since 2002.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said in a news conference that collaboration with Denmark profits both the international community and Japan.