Trump's Arctic ambitions prompt Denmark to invest billions in Greenland's defence

The Danish government has unveiled a significant increase in defence spending for Greenland, just hours after US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of Trump’s threat to reassert US control over the Panama Canal, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed that the package would amount to "double-digit billions" in Danish krone, equivalent to at least $1.5 billion.

On December 22, Trump made fresh comments regarding Greenland, stating on Truth Social, "The United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity". He had made similar remarks in 2019 during his first presidential term.

In response to Trump's comments, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede asserted that the island is "not for sale and will never be for sale".

Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, suggested that Denmark’s decision to increase defence spending is primarily driven by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also speculated that the move could be aimed at addressing uncertainties surrounding Trump's second term, which could lead to further challenges for Denmark’s strategic position in the Arctic.

Notably, Greenland holds significant strategic importance for the United States, housing a large US space facility. It is located along the shortest route from North America to Europe and boasts substantial mineral reserves.

"Greenland is not only vast in area but also rich in resources and, crucially, has exclusive rights to the surrounding waters," Cui said. "If it were turned into a strategic base for the US, it would have considerable geopolitical and economic implications for the region."

Trump's remarks come shortly after the US unveiled an updated Arctic Strategy in July, the first revision of its policy in five years, as detailed by the US Department of Defence.

In addition to his comments on Greenland, Trump has made other provocative statements regarding the territories of other nations. On December 22, he threatened to assert US control over the Panama Canal, describing it as a "vital national asset" for the US. 

This prompted a strong rebuttal from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who declared, "As president, I want to express precisely that every square metre of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama and will remain so. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable."

Recently, Trump has also sparked controversy by suggesting that the United States might absorb Canada, making it the 51st state.

By Aghakazim Guliyev