Denmark to invest funds in Arctic military presence

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said that Denmark is set to invest 14.6 billion kroner ($2.05 billion) in strengthening its military presence in the Arctic.

Poulsen made these remarks during a press conference, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This move comes shortly after repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump, who expressed his interest in "getting Greenland," an autonomous territory of Denmark. Greenland, the largest island in the world, is strategically located between Canada, Russia, and Europe. Its wealth of mineral resources has attracted the attention of global powers, including the US, Russia, and China. Furthermore, with global warming causing the melting of Greenland's ice, new shipping routes are opening up, making the territory more accessible and increasing its geopolitical significance.

Poulsen stated that this investment will be the first of several, with another planned for this spring. The Arctic and North Atlantic initiative, finalized between the Faroese government and Greenland's Naalakkersuisut (Cabinet of Greenland), focuses on boosting ship, satellite, and drone surveillance capabilities. The allocated funds will be used to acquire three new ships, additional long-range drones, and expand satellite capacity.

"We must face the fact that there are serious challenges regarding security and defense in the Arctic and North Atlantic," said Poulsen, adding that the security situation had worsened of late.

In addition to enhancing surveillance capabilities, the treaty aims to "assert sovereignty in the regions" while also supporting "close allies and NATO" operations in the Arctic. 

This investment comes after over ten years of significant defense budget reductions. The announcement was met with widespread approval from politicians across Denmark's political parties, as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Lawmakers have expressed agreement that further funding will be discussed in the months ahead.

Greenland is home to a major US space facility and serves as the shortest route between North America and Europe. 

Trump first proposed taking control of Greenland during his first presidential term, arguing that US control of the island was "essential" for international security. Upon returning to the White House, he intensified efforts to establish US control over Greenland, refusing to rule out the use of military force for this purpose.

By Naila Huseynova