After Trump's threat: Denmark pumps billions into Greenland defense - EU and NATO position themselves

Frankfurter Rundschau After Trump's threat: Denmark pumps billions into Greenland defense - EU and NATO position themselves Jan-Frederik Wendt • 2 hours • 3 minutes reading time Government wants to arm the military Trump wants to take control of Greenland with a deal. Now Denmark has announced a billion-dollar defense program for the Arctic. Copenhagen - Denmark has announced a billion-dollar program to defend Greenland. This is reported by Der Spiegel. The government wants to invest 14.6 billion Danish kroner - the equivalent of almost two billion euros. 11.9 billion kroner alone are to be spent on military purposes. This is Denmark's response to Trump's plan that the Arctic regions should belong to the USA. Under international law, Greenland is part of Denmark. The population lives largely independently - but is financially dependent on Denmark. Among other things, the Danish leadership wants to equip the military with three ships specially equipped for the Arctic. In addition, two drones are to be purchased for long-term missions and satellite capacities are to be expanded. This is reported by Danish radio. A large part of the equipment is to be used in and around Greenland. Denmark invests billions of euros in Greenland defense Danish politicians have been struggling for improved equipment in the Arctic for some time. After years of austerity, the government promised last year to invest more money in the military - some of it in the Arctic. Over the next ten years, 25 billion euros are to be spent. At the time, the details remained unclear. Danish veterans hold Danish flags in their hands on a hill. Apparently, the responsible parliamentary committee and the government have now reached an agreement. For example, four older naval inspection ships are to be replaced. The replacement is to be more flexible and provide space for helicopters and drones. In the future, unmanned aerial vehicles are to primarily monitor Danish territory - which includes Greenland. The Greenlanders want their independence. For years, societies have been engaged in a debate about colonial injustice. But Trump's shameless offers are unsettling. Vivian Motzfeldt, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Greenland, was also present at the presentation of the new military act in Copenhagen: "We are also aware that the security situation has changed and we must take this into account." Trump's Greenland plan: telephone call between the USA and Denmark In the future, more people in Greenland are to receive basic military training. The program for this has only been in place since last year. A few days ago, a telephone call between Copenhagen and Washington was disastrous, reported the Financial Times. Since then, an emergency program has apparently been running in Denmark. In a joint statement, US Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and Danish MP Aaja Chemnitz announced that the Arctic island was "open for business, but not for sale." This was reported by Politico. Murkowski represents Alaska, Chemitz represents Greenland. Trump calls Greenland a "wonderful place" and does not rule out violence "As lawmakers representing Greenland in Denmark and the United States, we see a better way forward. The United States should recognize, like Denmark, that the future is determined by partnership, not ownership," the politicians added. Previously, Trump had not ruled out military force. "Greenland is a wonderful place. We need it for international security. And I am sure Denmark will join in - it costs them a lot of money to maintain it, to keep it," the US president told reporters in the Oval Office last week. According to the Financial Times, NATO and the EU have agreed to keep quiet about Greenland. According to four officials, Denmark is working closely with both actors. Copenhagen wants to avoid a public confrontation with Trump. In a phone call, the Republican threatened Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen with US tariffs and again refused to rule out a violent US takeover of Greenland. (Jan-Frederik Wendt)