Denmark elevated protection funds after Trump’s Greenland plan — ‘No coincidence’

After President-elect Donald Trump introduced his want for US “possession and management” of Greenland, the Danish authorities ramped up its protection spending for the Arctic autonomous territory — which isn’t any coincidence — says an Arcitc safety skilled.

Forward of a second time period on the White Home and as a part of his Cupboard nominations, Trump named Ken Howery — a former envoy to Sweden — as his ambassador to Copenhagen, earlier than broaching the topic.

The Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen introduced the brand new protection package deal with a “double-digit billion quantity” in krone which equals a minimum of $1.5 billion. The sum will assist buy two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and two additional canine sled groups for elevated safety.

“Whereas they framed the timing as a coincidence, it was a transparent sign to the US that Denmark takes its duty of defending Greenland severely whereas assembly American calls for of higher surveillance within the Arctic and North Atlantic,” Marc Jacobsen, an affiliate professor of Arctic safety, politics, and diplomacy on the Royal Danish Defence Faculty, instructed Each day Categorical US.

On his Fact Social account, Trump mentioned that Greenland, a semi-autonomous a part of Denmark for over six centuries, may host a large US Air Drive base.

“For functions of Nationwide Safety and Freedom all through the World, the US of America feels that the possession and management of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” he mentioned.

Nevertheless, Greenland’s elected Prime Minister launched an announcement the place he mentioned: “Greenland is ours. We’re not on the market and can by no means be on the market. We should not lose our lengthy battle for freedom.”

Greenlandic reactions with the US are “price noticing,” mentioned Jacobsen.

Throughout his first time period, Trump had expressed comparable curiosity within the island, a proposal that was promptly rejected by each Greenland and Denmark.

When Trump first proposed the acquisition thought in 2019, “it was acquired as a neocolonial provocation,” Jacobsen mentioned.

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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had referred to as his provide “absurd” on the time.

This time, nevertheless, it’s barely completely different.

Whereas it’s being seen as a provocation, it’s also being regarded “as a possibility to strengthen bilateral ties between Greenland and the US,” he defined.

“The reason being that following the 2019 thought – and the amplified American consideration towards the Arctic – Greenland skilled enhanced company in worldwide politics. That is vital for Greenland in its attempt towards independence,” Jacobsen mentioned.

Greenland has a inhabitants of 56,000 folks. Since 2009, they’ve retained the fitting to declare independence from Denmark.

Nevertheless, they’ve avoided doing in order they’re considerably depending on funds transfers from Copenhagen for sustenance.

The brand new funds can even permit enhanced staffing at Arctic Command within the capital Nuuk in addition to improve one in all Greenland’s three major civilian airports to deal with F-35 supersonic fighter plane.

“We’ve not invested sufficient within the Arctic for a few years, now we’re planning a stronger presence,” Poulsen mentioned in regards to the new funds.

Whereas Jacobsen finds Trump’s rhetoric and selection of phrases to be “one in all a form,” his curiosity in Greenland stems from the “historic curiosity in specializing in geostrategic location and mineral wealth” for the US.

With its Pituffik air base, Greenland’s location is strategic for the US navy and its early-warning system for ballistic missiles because the island lies within the shortest route from North America to Europe.

American curiosity in Greenland or different Arctic lands just isn’t distinctive. President Andrew Johnson purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

In 1947, officers underneath President Harry Truman’s administration tried to covertly purchase Greenland for $100 million in gold bars, contemplating the island to be a “navy necessity,” a secret that was uncovered by a Danish newspaper a long time later in 1991. President Dwight Eisenhower proposed shopping for the island again in 1960.

The US has been grappling with worsening relations with nations like China and Russia that additional “intensify” Greenland’s geostrategic significance, Jacobsen mentioned.

He additionally identified the huge deposits of uncommon earth parts in Greeland which can be “additional fascinating” as a result of potential use of such parts in trendy applied sciences.

Whereas Greenlandic politicians have said that the Arctic island just isn’t on the market, they’re “very all for strengthening ties with the US, particularly in methods that may enhance the Greenlandic economic system,” Jacobsen added.

In a separate occasion, Trump threatened to recapture the Panama Canal, accusing them of charging greater charges for Central American passage utilization, incomes a pointy rebuttal from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino who mentioned the canal belongs to them.