Copenhagen announced an $8.7 billion plan to expand its defence strategy in Greenland, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic, in response to increasing geopolitical competition in the region. The funding includes $4.2 billion for upgrading Arctic security and purchasing 16 new F-35 fighter jets (from the U.S.), which gives Denmark a total of 43 jets. The overall funding will also support the purchase of two new Arctic patrol ships, drones, maritime patrol aircraft, early warning radar for air search and rescue, and new Arctic Command HQ in Nuuk, as well as a specialized military unit under the Joint Arctic Command, and there will also be an undersea cable built to connect Greenland and Denmark for communications and to aid in intelligence surveillance.
According to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, it “significantly strengthens” Denmark’s ability to defend its Arctic territories and to meet the obligations under NATO. This comes after the U.S. renewed interest in Greenland, with remarks from President Donald Trump of a desire to bring the island under U.S. administration because of its “criticality” for national and economic security. Greenland has hosted an important U.S. radar base since the Cold War, has vast resources of rare earth and minerals, and is situated between North America and Europe. The new Danish defense package signals Denmark’s commitment to defend its sovereignty and the emergence of the Arctic as an arena for global power competition.
