Denmark Increases Military Funding for Greenland Following Trump's Remarks
Copenhagen plans to invest over $1.5 billion in militarizing the ice-covered territory that Donald Trump asserted should be under U.S. control. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Drones and dog sled teams will be deployed to the frozen island, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said.
Denmark plans to invest over $1.5 billion in Greenland's defense, as announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on Tuesday, just days after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed a desire for the territory to be under American “ownership and control.”
In an interview with Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten newspaper, Poulsen revealed that Copenhagen will allocate a “double digit billion amount” in krone, translating to at least $1.5 billion, for initiatives designed to bolster the Danish military presence in Greenland. The comprehensive package includes the acquisition of two patrol boats, two long-range drones, two dog sled teams, and funding to upgrade one of the territory’s civilian airports so it can support F-35 fighter jets.
“For many years we have not invested enough in the Arctic, now we are planning a stronger presence,” he stated.
Just two days prior, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare that “for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Trump had previously made similar remarks during his first term, suggesting the purchase of Greenland from Denmark as “essentially…a large real estate deal.”
Poulsen explained to Jyllands-Posten that the initiative to increase military spending in Greenland was already in the works, noting the “irony of fate” that its announcement coincided with Trump’s comments.
In response, Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, expressed outrage at Trump’s assertion. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” he emphasized, adding that he would welcome greater trade and cooperation with the US.
Since gaining home rule status from Denmark in 1979, Greenland's defense and foreign policy decisions have still been made in Copenhagen. The island is predominantly covered by a thick ice sheet, with two-thirds of its territory located above the Arctic Circle. It hosts a significant US Space Force base, which stands as the northernmost American military installation globally.
Securing control of Greenland would significantly enhance American access to the Arctic Ocean. Currently, 50% of the Arctic coastline belongs to Russia, making the region strategically and sovereignly vital for Moscow.
Trump is not the first American president to propose acquiring Greenland. The idea was initially suggested by Andrew Johnson in the 1860s, who ultimately negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Denmark plans to invest over $1.5 billion in Greenland's defense, as announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on Tuesday, just days after US President-elect Donald Trump expressed a desire for the territory to be under American “ownership and control.”
In an interview with Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten newspaper, Poulsen revealed that Copenhagen will allocate a “double digit billion amount” in krone, translating to at least $1.5 billion, for initiatives designed to bolster the Danish military presence in Greenland. The comprehensive package includes the acquisition of two patrol boats, two long-range drones, two dog sled teams, and funding to upgrade one of the territory’s civilian airports so it can support F-35 fighter jets.
“For many years we have not invested enough in the Arctic, now we are planning a stronger presence,” he stated.
Just two days prior, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare that “for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
Trump had previously made similar remarks during his first term, suggesting the purchase of Greenland from Denmark as “essentially…a large real estate deal.”
Poulsen explained to Jyllands-Posten that the initiative to increase military spending in Greenland was already in the works, noting the “irony of fate” that its announcement coincided with Trump’s comments.
In response, Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, expressed outrage at Trump’s assertion. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” he emphasized, adding that he would welcome greater trade and cooperation with the US.
Since gaining home rule status from Denmark in 1979, Greenland's defense and foreign policy decisions have still been made in Copenhagen. The island is predominantly covered by a thick ice sheet, with two-thirds of its territory located above the Arctic Circle. It hosts a significant US Space Force base, which stands as the northernmost American military installation globally.
Securing control of Greenland would significantly enhance American access to the Arctic Ocean. Currently, 50% of the Arctic coastline belongs to Russia, making the region strategically and sovereignly vital for Moscow.
Trump is not the first American president to propose acquiring Greenland. The idea was initially suggested by Andrew Johnson in the 1860s, who ultimately negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
