Mr Hutton conducted bilateral discussions with Søren Gade, his Danish counterpart, and focused on the subjects of NATO and the engagement in Afghanistan, which is pertinent as Denmark has a battle group under UK command in Helmand, and the Danes, in turn, command a British company.
Mr Hutton spoke of this close relationship in several interviews with the media, during which he praised the 'extraordinary contribution of the Danish Armed Forces in Afghanistan'.
The Danes, who have taken heavy casualties in Afghanistan, held a formal welcome parade in the Defence Secretary's honour and were equally keen to underline the relationship, referring to the UK at a press conference as 'their closest allies in NATO and Europe'.
Later, before Mr Hutton spoke to a packed hall at Copenhagen University, Danish Defence Minister Søren Gade said that the British military contribution around the world was 'outstanding, and inspirational for Denmark'.
During his speech Mr Hutton said:
"I would like to talk about our campaign in Afghanistan, and its importance to both the security of our two countries and the future of the North Atlantic Alliance itself.
"One thread that weaves its way through all of these issues is the ever closer relationship between Britain and Denmark. This relationship is built above all else on a firm foundation of shared values and outlooks.
"Like you, we regard democracy, freedom of speech, human rights, the rule of law and good governance as core values. Values that are worth defending when they come under attack.
Defence Secretary John Hutton (left) meeting Søren Gade, his Danish counterpart, in Denmark on 26 March 2009
[Picture: via MOD]
"And in these dangerous times we both know the importance of combining political, diplomatic, economic and military resources in the defence of those values. And, like you, we are firm believers in the role of international institutions in securing our vital national security interests."
The Defence Secretary continued:
"Our own European journeys since the end of the Second World War have been very similar. In 1960, we joined the European Free Trade Association together. 13 years later we both joined the EEC [European Economic Community].
"And we joined NATO together in 1949 as founding members and our relationship has grown ever closer since. We were strong allies in southern Iraq where our soldiers faced the same dangers in the common cause we were pursuing.
"And today we are once again integral partners in Helmand province in Afghanistan. In both of those theatres, the bravery and professionalism of Danish soldiers has earned the profound respect and admiration of everyone at home. The British Armed Forces feel proud to serve alongside you."
In Afghanistan, Danish and British soldiers are working and fighting together in the closest military co-operation the two nations have ever seen, and that co-operation and respect comes from shared experience, from absolute reliance on each other to face the risks together and get the job done, and from a shared pride in achievement.
While Denmark and the UK have been allies since the birth of NATO, for the common soldier, Danish and British military co-operation is more recent: forged in the heat of Helmand.