Denmark is increasing Greenland’s defense spending amid growing Arctic tensions, following the president-elect’s renewed push to acquire it.
The government of Denmark, which controls key aspects of the autonomous territory of Greenland, has announced a major boost to the Arctic island’s defense spending, just hours after President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase Greenland, citing security imperatives.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on Dec. 24 that the defense package would amount to at least $1.5 billion, while calling the timing of the spending boost “ironic” in light of Trump’s recent remarks.
Trump said on Dec. 22 that U.S. control and ownership of Greenland—a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark—is “an absolute necessity” for “national security and freedom throughout the world.”
Denmark’s defense package includes new inspection ships, drones, dog sled teams, upgraded Arctic Command staffing, and an F-35 capable airport upgrade, according to Poulsen.
“We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years, now we are planning a stronger presence,” he said.
Greenland, which runs its own domestic matters but whose foreign affairs including defense are controlled by Denmark, is strategically important to the United States. The former Danish colony is strategically located about halfway along the shortest route from Europe and Russia to North America. It’s home to a large U.S. space facility and its proximity to the Arctic means that it plays a pivotal role in monitoring and managing Arctic security.
The Arctic also serves as the shortest route for intercontinental ballistic missiles traveling between the United States and Russia, elevating Greenland’s importance as a strategic security outpost in the current period of heightened rivalry between global great powers.
During his first term, Trump also expressed interest in purchasing the strategically located Arctic island, which has a landmass approximately a quarter the size of the United States but a population of about 57,000.
The United States also made previous offers to purchase Greenland, first in 1867 and again in 1946 under President Harry Truman. Each time, Denmark refused.
By Tom Ozimek
