Denmark said that it would spend 14.6 billion kroner (1.6 billion pounds sterling; $ 2.05 billion) to stimulate security in the Arctic region, in partnership with its autonomous territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands .
The agreement includes three new arctic ships, long -range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity and stronger satellite capacity.
“We have to face the fact that there are serious challenges concerning security and defense in the Arctic and the North Atlantic,” said Denmark Defense Minister Troels, Lund Poulsen.
This decision comes after US President Donald Trump said on several occasions that he wanted to acquire Greenland, an island that has great autonomy but which is part of Denmark.
Asked earlier in January if he could exclude the use of the military or economic force to continue his desire to resume the territory, Trump said he couldn’t.
Greenland, the most unexpected territory in the world, is home to around 56,000 people in mainly indigenous inits.
The United States has long maintained security in Greenland. After Nazi Germany occupied Continental Denmark during the Second World War, the United States invaded Greenland, establishing military and radio stations across the territory. He has maintained a presence in the region since then.
Greenland is on the shortest road from North America to Europe, which makes it strategically important for the United States.
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the natural resources of Greenland, including mining for minerals of rare earths, uranium and iron.
“Greenland is entering a period of change of landscape threats,” said Vivian Motzfeldt, Minister of Independence and Foreign Affairs in Greenland, in a statement announcing new defense expenses.
“I am happy that from this partial agreement, we took the first step towards strengthening security in and around Greenland.”
An additional funding announcement should arrive in the first half of this year.
The new investment follows the separate announcement of Denmark in December He spent about 1.2 billion pounds sterling On the defense of Greenland, including the purchase of new ships, long -range drones and additional dog sled teams.
Poulsen then described the moment of announcement as an “irony of fate” – coming just after Trump said that the property and control of Greenland were “absolute necessity” for the United States.
The Prime Minister of Greenland declared the territory is not for saleAdding that “Greenland belongs to the inhabitants of Greenland”.
The Prime Minister of Denmark told Trump that It’s in Greenland To decide on his own future.
Trump has doubled his intention since then, Despite the warnings European countries not to threaten Greenland.
