Denmark has announced $4.2 billion (£3.2 billion) of extra defense spending to boost security in Greenland and the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
It will also spend $4.5 billion buying 16 more F-35 fighter jets from the United States, increasing its fleet to a total of 43.
With this agreement, we significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Danish Armed Forces in the region, said Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
This defense expansion follows remarks from former US President Donald Trump, who expressed a desire to acquire Greenland, citing its importance for national and economic security.
Denmark's initiative, developed in collaboration with Greenland and the Faroe Islands, includes funding for two new Arctic ships, maritime patrol planes, drones, early warning radar, and the establishment of a new Arctic command headquarters in Nuuk, Greenland.
The Chief of Defence, Michael Hyldgaard, affirmed the military's role in ensuring security across the Kingdom and stated, the task of the Armed Forces is to ensure security throughout the Kingdom - and, if necessary, to defend Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark within the framework of NATO in all domains. Specific adversaries were not identified in the statements.
In an additional effort to improve connectivity, the plan also includes funding for an undersea cable linking Greenland and Denmark.
While the Danish defense strategy spoke of deterrence and obligations to NATO, it notably avoided direct mention of the US or Russia. However, the context is set against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, especially regarding Trump’s previous comments on Greenland’s strategic resources.
Greenland, which has been strategically important to the US since the Cold War due to its location and radar bases, remains under Danish sovereignty. It is deemed essential for monitoring military activities in the region, with particular emphasis on tracking Chinese and Russian maritime movements.
The renewed interest in Greenland also highlights its extensive natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron, crucial for contemporary geopolitics.
