Denmark’s not rolling over.
The Nordic nation introduced Tuesday that it’ll bolster Greenland’s defenses with a $1.5 billion in new sources, together with two elite sled canine groups, days after President-elect Donald Trump signaled renewed curiosity in buying the Arctic island.
“It is ironic that it coincides with the announcement from the United States,” Danish Minister of Protection Troels Lund Poulsen advised Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in regards to the new protection package deal, dismissing that it had something to do with Trump’s Sunday Reality Social put up.
“For many years we have not invested enough in the Arctic, now we are planning a stronger presence,” he added.
Poulsen famous that the large protection package deal would fund the acquisition of two new patrol boats, two new long-range drones and permit two further sled canine groups to be deployed to the barren, icy island.
The Danes have used mushing groups to patrol Greenland since World Warfare II.
Denmark’s Sirius Canine Sled Patrol – which takes its identify from the “Dog Star” or the brightest star within the evening sky – is an elite particular forces unit hooked up to the Royal Danish Navy.
Members of the sled canine workforce patrol Greenland’s wilderness for months at a time and are armed with bolt-action rifles and pistols – although they’re extra more likely to encounter polar bears and musk oxen than folks on patrol.
Along with extra sled canine patrols, Denmark additionally plans to extend staffing at its Greenland command put up and improve the island’s airports to deal with F-35 fighter jets, based on the BBC.
Poulsen famous that Denmark – a member of North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) – is keen to “work with the US” to safe Greenland.
Trump, 78, expressed on Sunday his want to see a US-owned Greenland by the top of his second time period as he introduced PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his choose to function US ambassador to Denmark.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump stated in a press release.
Sources near the president-elect advised The Publish that Trump is “100% critical’’ about wanting to accumulate Greenland, in addition to the Panama Canal.
Trump, who’s drawn to the island’s pure sources and geopolitical relevance, beforehand indicated that he needed to buy Greenland again in 2019.
“Greenland is not for sale,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on the time, in response to Trump’s curiosity in making a deal.
Greenland, which has a inhabitants of about 56,000, has its personal authorities however is a part of Denmark.
