The Hill: Denmark will strengthen Greenland's defense after Trump's statements
After Trump's call to give Greenland to America, Denmark announced new measures to strengthen the island's defense, writes The Hill. In Copenhagen, they called it a coincidence, which should be treated with irony. But Greenlanders don't think it's funny at all.
Brad Dress
Denmark has announced a series of new steps to strengthen Greenland's security, which the Danish defense minister called "ironic" because the decision was made two days after President-elect Trump called for the transfer of this Arctic island to the United States.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten that Copenhagen plans to spend the equivalent of about one and a half billion dollars on new defense measures. "We have not invested enough money in the Arctic for many years, and now we intend to strengthen our presence," he said.
Poulsen explained that this financial package was planned in advance, and called it "ironic" that the allocation of funds coincided with Trump's call to establish control over the island.
The minister also said that Denmark is ready to "work with the United States" to ensure Greenland's security.
As part of the new financial package, it is planned to purchase two Tethys-class patrol ships, two long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, create two sled dog teams and increase the number of personnel of the Danish armed forces in Greenland, Jyllands-Posten reports.
Trump wrote on Sunday on the Truth Social network that it was "absolutely necessary" for America to own and control Greenland for reasons of national security.
In his first term, Trump had already offered to buy Greenland, then his statement caused tension between Washington and Copenhagen.
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded defiantly to Trump on Monday, writing on Facebook*: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom." At the same time, Egede declared his readiness for cooperation and trade.
Greenland is a self-governing region, but it is still under the control of Denmark, which deals with defense, security and foreign policy issues.
The Arctic is important for national security, and the United States intends to counter the increasing influence of Russia and China in this region, which is becoming more accessible as climate change causes the melting of ice and leads to the emergence of new sea routes.
The United States, in close cooperation with allies such as Canada and Finland, is building additional patrol ships capable of navigating icy latitudes. This week, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the approval of a work plan for the construction of the first heavy polar icebreaker in more than 50 years.
Denmark is a member of the western military alliance of NATO and a partner of the United States in the Arctic region.
Trump, who is due to take office on January 20, led his election campaign under the slogans of restoring security and peace throughout the world, and promised to put an end to armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump has spoken out not only about Greenland. He said that the United States should take control of the Panama Canal, which has been owned and operated by Panama since 1999. The United States helped build and managed this waterway for most of the twentieth century. It is a vital waterway for international navigation.
Trump also joked about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
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