In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial claim to ownership of Greenland, Denmark has announced a significant increase in defense spending for its autonomous territory.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen revealed at a press conference on Wednesday that the government plans to boost Greenland’s defense budget by approximately 10 billion kroner. While the exact amount remains unspecified, local media sources estimate the increase could be between 12 and 15 billion kroner (around $1.5 billion).
Poulsen admitted that adequate investment in the Arctic has been lacking for years and expressed a commitment to establishing a more robust regional presence.
While part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland maintains substantial autonomy with its government. The Danish government’s move appears to respond to Trump’s recent assertions, though Poulsen downplayed any direct connection, describing the timing as an “irony of fate.”
The U.S. currently operates its northernmost space monitoring facility on Greenland’s coast, and Trump previously sparked controversy by suggesting U.S. ownership of Greenland would bolster global security and freedom.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede rebuffed Trump’s overtures, declaring, “We are not for sale.” He added that while the country is committed to maintaining open trade and cooperation with global partners, its sovereignty is not negotiable.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who holds ultimate authority over Greenland, dismissed Trump’s comments as “absurd.”
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