Copenhagen (Denmark) has announced a significant increase in its defense budget, committing an additional 14.6 billion Danish crowns ($2.05 billion) to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The move comes as geopolitical tensions intensify in the region, particularly around Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory with immense strategic and economic importance.
“There are serious challenges regarding security and defense in the Arctic and North Atlantic,” Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated, highlighting the need to address emerging threats in the region. The announcement coincides with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s diplomatic engagements this week with European leaders and NATO to reinforce “European unity” on Arctic and defense issues.
The Arctic’s geopolitical importance has surged due to climate change, opening new shipping routes and exposing Greenland’s vast mineral resources. Greenland has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump reiterating earlier this month that Greenland is vital to U.S. security and pressing Denmark to relinquish control. The island houses the U.S. military’s Pituffik Space Base, a key installation for ballistic missile early-warning systems.
Denmark, although, has long faced criticism for limited military capabilities in the Arctic, relying on four aging vessels, one surveillance plane, and dog sled patrols to oversee a region four times the size of France. To address this, Denmark’s new package includes three modern ships for Arctic waters, enhanced satellite capacity, and long-range drones to strengthen surveillance and defense.
The Danish government developed this defense plan with Greenland and the Faroe Islands. It builds on last year’s 190-billion-crown ($26 billion) military budget, with plans for further agreements on deterrence and defense by summer 2025.
Frederiksen highlighted the importance of unity in Europe amid shifting geopolitical realities, stating, “Together, we can meet the challenges we face.”
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