Last Updated:December 25, 2024, 12:14 IST
Trump recently said bringing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, under US control was an “absolute necessity”, which was met with scorn from the island’s letters.
Greenland PM Mute Egede said Greenland belongs to the people of the island-nation and lashed out at Trump over his desire to bring it under US control. (IMAGE: REUTERS/NASA)
US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent call to bring Greenland under American control, describing it as an “absolute necessity”, has been met with a strong response from the Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years.
As Trump announced PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his choice for the position of US envoy to Denmark, Trump said that the US feels taking ownership and control of Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for national security and freedom purposes.
Now, the Danish government has announced a huge boost in defence spending for Greenland, with Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen unveiling a $1.5 billion package, according to BBC. Poulsen described the timing of the announcement as “irony of fate”.
Greenland, the world’s largest island that is not a continent, is part of North America but has strong geopolitical ties to Europe. It is an autonomous Danish territory but is strategically important for the US military and its ballistic missile early-warning system due to its mineral reserves and simpler trade route.
What Does The Danish Package Entail?
According to Poulsen, the defence package would allow for the purchase of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones and two extra dog sled teams.
The $1.5 billion package also includes funding for increased staffing at Arctic Command in the capital Nuuk and an upgrade for one of Greenland’s three main civilian airports to handle F-35 supersonic fighter aircraft.
“We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years, now we are planning a stronger presence,” he told BBC. Denmark had been slow to upgrade its military capacity in Greenland amid rising encroachments around the island by Russia and China.
Analysts say the plan has been under discussion for a long time and should not be seen as a direct response to Trump’s comments. Army Maj Steen Kjaergaard of the Danish Defence Academy suggests it may have been Trump’s intention to pressure Denmark into such a move.
“It is likely to be sparked by the renewed Trump focus on the need for air and maritime control around Greenland and the internal developments in Greenland where some are voicing a will to look towards the US – a new international airport in Nuuk was just inaugurated,” he said.
‘Greenland Not For Sale’: PM
In a strong reply to Trump’s statement, Greenland PM Mute Egede said, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
The Danish government must state in clear terms that control over Greenland is not up for discussion or negotiation, member of parliament Rasmus Jarlov of the opposition Conservative Party said on social media platform X. “To the extent that US activities aim to take control of Danish territory, it must be prohibited and countered. Then they can’t be there at all,” he said.
During his previous term in office, Trump in 2019 expressed interest in buying Greenland, but the proposal was promptly rejected by Denmark as well as by the island’s own authorities before any formal discussions could take place.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the time labelled Trump’s offer as “absurd”, leading him to term her dismissal of the idea as “nasty” and to subsequently cancel a visit to Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Russia has recently sought to claim territory up to Greenland’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Since 2009 Greenland has held the right to declare independence from Denmark. The island of some 56,000 inhabitants, which relies on significant budget transfers from Copenhagen each year, has so far refrained from doing so.
(with inputs from agencies)
Location :
Copenhagen, Denmark