Greenland: Denmark will increase navy presence within the Arctic massively | EUROtoday

Denmark needs to speculate the equal of virtually two billion euros so as to enhance safety within the strategically vital Arctic area. “We have to face the fact that there are serious challenges for security and defense in the Arctic and the North Atlantic,” mentioned Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen on Monday. Therefore, 14.6 billion crowns needs to be invested within the safety of the area.

The announcement was made solely two days after the brand new US President Donald Trump had reaffirmed his annexation plans for Greenland-and shortly earlier than a visit from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to Berlin, Paris and Brussels. In Berlin it will likely be acquired by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Tuesday morning.

The cash is to be invested in three new ships for the Arctic waters round Greenland, different lengthy -distance roar and bolstered satellite tv for pc capacities. The Danish authorities has agreed with a big majority of the parliamentary events and in shut cooperation with the governments of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, because the Ministry of Defense in Copenhagen introduced.

In addition to the primary partial settlement with a worth of round 14.6 billion crowns (round EUR 1.95 billion), the Danes, Färinger and Greenlanders agreed to barter a second settlement for deterrent and protection till summer season. The safety coverage scenario requires this, the ministry mentioned.

At the identical time, it’s of essential significance to assist shut allies and NATO in fixing duties within the Arctic and North Atlantic to strengthen protection and safety. The Greenland overseas consultant Vivian Motzfeldt spoke of a “historical day” on the presentation of the settlement in Copenhagen.

The announcement of the partial settlement falls throughout a time when US President Donald Trump has repeatedly registered claims for management over Greenland. Trump had said a number of occasions previously few weeks that he needed to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland – and never excluded navy steps. According to Trump, the United States wants the world for its “national security” (Read extra about this right here). The largest island on earth is essentially autonomous, however is formally a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is at present within the technique of demonstrating European cohesion in opposition to the background of those wishes. To do that, she travels to Berlin, Paris and Brussels on Tuesday to fulfill Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte.

The island and its mineral sources have turn into a coveted purpose, the melting ice of the Arctic opens up new transport routes round them.