Denmark Increases Defence Budget for Greenland Amid Trump's Purchase Remarks

In a newly announced defence package for Greenland, Denmark plans to invest around $1.5 billion to enhance military presence following President Trump's comments about the necessity of US control over the Arctic territory. The move is fueled by strategic concerns over regional security and international dynamics, particularly with potential encroachments from China and Russia.

Denmark's government is set to increase its defence spending for Greenland substantially, with the announcement coming shortly after US President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in purchasing the Arctic territory. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen disclosed that the proposed package amounts to a "double digit billion" figure in krone, translating to an estimated $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion). Noting the timing of the announcement, Poulsen called it an "irony of fate."

Trump, in a statement posted on his social media, characterized Greenland's ownership as an "absolute necessity" for US national security and global freedom. As an autonomous Danish territory, Greenland is vital to US interests, sitting strategically along the shortest route to Europe and boasting significant mineral and oil resources.

The planned Danish defence enhancements include the acquisition of two new inspection ships, long-range drones, and funding directed towards Arctic Command in Nuuk. Additionally, there are plans to upgrade one of Greenland's three main civilian airports to accommodate F-35 supersonic fighter jets. "We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years," Poulsen remarked, indicating a clear intention to bolster Denmark's presence in the region.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede addressed Trump's comments, firmly stating, "We are not for sale," while encouraging continued cooperation and trade with neighboring countries. Analysts suggest that the defence plan has been under consideration long before Trump's remarks and should not be perceived as a direct reaction to them. Concerns persist, however, that failure to protect the surrounding waters may intensify US demands for control over Greenland, particularly as tensions with geopolitical rivals like China and Russia grow.

Army Maj Steen Kjaergaard from the Danish Defence Academy speculated that Trump's statements might have effectively prompted Denmark to prioritize its military capabilities in the Arctic, without necessitating a direct US takeover of the territory, which relies extensively on subsidies from Denmark. Trump's suggestions about acquiring Greenland are not new; a similar idea was proposed by US President Andrew Johnson in the 1860s. In 2019, Trump faced backlash from Denmark's leadership after they dismissed his proposal as "absurd," leading to the cancellation of a planned state visit.