Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced on Tuesday to invest billions of kroner in a military presence in Greenland. This statement was made just a day after US President-elect Donald Trump announced that for the US “possession and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
– For many years we have not invested enough in Arctic security – admitted Lund Poulsen in a statement for the Danish newspaper “Jyllands-Posten”. According to the Danish minister, it is necessary to acquire new ships and drones, as well as increase the number of troops in Greenland.
The key issue is to adapt the airport in Kangerlussuaq in Greenland to handle F-35 combat aircraft operated by the Danish Air Force.
Poulsen described the coincidence of his declaration with Trump's Monday statement about Greenland as “irony of fate.” – We have been working on strengthening defense for many years – he recalled. Currently, the Danish military command in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, consists of 75 people.
Sunrise in Ilulissat, GreenlandShutterstock
Trump wants to control Greenland
American president-elect Donald Trumpappointing Elon Musk's partner, billionaire Ken Howery, as ambassador in Copenhagen, emphasized that “owning and controlling Greenland is an absolute necessity.” – For the purposes of national security and freedom around the world – he noted.
Trump made a declaration to the government in 2019 during his first term in the White House Denmark offer to buy Greenland. The proposal was then firmly rejected by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. This time, the head of the Danish government refused to comment on the matter. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Monday that the island is not for sale.
Greenland is an autonomous territory dependent on Denmark, it does not have its own army.
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