Denmark has announced $4.2 billion (£3.2 billion) of additional defense spending to enhance security in Greenland and the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
The investment will also include $4.5 billion for the acquisition of 16 F-35 fighter jets from the United States, increasing Denmark's fleet to 43 advanced aircraft. This agreement is seen as a significant step forward in bolstering the capabilities of the Danish Armed Forces, according to Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
This defensive augmentation follows U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated expression of interest in Greenland, which he described as critical for national and economic security.
The new defense package was developed in collaboration with the governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Plans include the purchase of two new Arctic ships, maritime patrol planes, drones, and early warning radar systems.
A new Arctic command headquarters will be established in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, alongside a new military unit under Joint Arctic Command. Chief of Defence, Michael Hyldgaard, articulated that the armed forces' mission is to ensure security throughout the Kingdom and potentially defend Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark under NATO frameworks.
Further, Denmark will fund an undersea cable linking Greenland and Denmark. Although the announcement indicates a focus on deterrence and NATO commitments, it stops short of mentioning the United States or Russia explicitly.
Trump's ambition towards Greenland raises concerns, particularly with statements indicating the island's importance for military monitoring of Chinese and Russian activities. With its strategic location between North America and Europe, Greenland is crucial for military logistics and resource exploration, especially in light of its richness in natural resources, which includes opportunities for mining rare earths, uranium, and iron.
