Denmark strengthens Greenland's defense amid Trump's statements
The Danish government has announced a significant increase in spending on Greenland's defense. This decision was made after US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire this Arctic territory.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the BBC.
According to Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, the defense package amounts to a “double-digit billion-dollar sum” in kroner, or at least $1.5 billion.
He called the timing of the announcement “ironic” because yesterday Trump said that ownership and control of the huge island is an “absolute necessity” for the United States.
It is noted that Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, is home to a major American space facility and is of strategic importance to the United States, as it lies on the shortest route to Europe. It has large reserves of minerals and oil.
According to Poulsen, the package will allow for the purchase of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and two additional dog sled teams.
It also provides funding to increase the staff of the Arctic Command in the capital Nuuk and to modernize one of Greenland's three main civilian airports to handle F-35 supersonic fighters.
The minister did not name the exact amount, but Danish media estimated that it would be around 12-15 billion kroner (at least $1.6 billion).
“We have not invested enough in the Arctic over the years, and now we plan to increase our presence,” Poulsen said.
Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 25/12/2024
