As in life, coincidences also seem to exist in foreign policy. Denmark has in fact announced a spending plan aimed at strengthening the security of Greenland just two days after the post published by Donald Trump sul social Truth in which the tycoon stated that “For the purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity“. However, the Danish Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, specified that the package had been planned in advance and was “ironic” that his presentation coincided with the position taken by the American president-elect.
The Danish government intends to spend the equivalent of around $1.5 billion to respond to security threats in the area. Poulsen stated that “for many years we have not invested enough in the Arctic, now we are planning a stronger presence“. The Minister of Defense said he was ready to “collaborate with the United States” to ensure the protection of Greenland. Specifically the newspaper Jyllands-Posten reveals that the package includes two Thetis-class patrol boats, two long-range drones, two sled dog teams, an increase in Danish military personnel in Greenland and a modernization of Kangerlussuaq airport that would allow it to accommodate F-35 fighters.
Trump had already mentioned the possible purchase of Greenland during his first term. “It is not for sale”, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the responded at the time tycoon he had reacted by canceling a visit to Copenhagen. “Greenland is ours”, the Greenlandic prime minister reiterated in recent days, adding that “We are not for sale and never will be. We will not give up our long struggle for freedom”. The new intervention by the billionaire who will take office on January 20 came on the occasion of the announcement of the next American ambassador to Copenhagen, Ken Howery, financier and co-founder of PayPal, who has already represented the United States in Sweden.
Greenland is an immense autonomous territory part of Denmark and due to its location and its natural resources it is at the center of interest from the United States, China and Russia. In a recently published report the Danish Defense Intelligence Service raised the alarm about the risk of a military confrontation inArctic caused by Moscow's increasingly hostile initiatives. The document states that the Federation “gives priority to the region and intends to demonstrate its strength through aggressive and threatening behavior” which could lead to an unprecedented escalation. The collaboration between the Federation and China in the Arctic is another aspect that is being carefully monitored.
The strategic importance of the region is notable.
As the Reuterssubmarines equipped with nuclear weapons can be deployed in this area which, hidden under the ice, could strike large parts of the territories of North America, Europe and Russia in the event of a conflict. Furthermore, the route over the North Pole is the shortest route between the United States and Russia and ballistic missiles they may cross it before reaching their goals.
