Denmark's MoD chief announces stronger Greenland defense after Trump's words

After the statement of US President-elect Donald Trump about the desire to buy Greenland, the Danish government has presented a new defense package to protect the island. This was announced by Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on December 25.

"We have not invested sufficiently in the Arctic for many years, now we plan to make our presence stronger," Poulsen said, his words are quoted by the BBC TV channel.

The minister called the announcement of the defense package ironic against the backdrop of US President-elect Donald Trump's words. At least $1.5 billion has been allocated to implement new measures to strengthen Greenland's defense. The funds will allow Denmark to buy two new long-range drones, two new inspection ships, form two additional dog sleds and modernize one of the island's airports so that it can accommodate the US-made F-35 hypersonic aircraft.

In addition, these funds include increasing the number of contingent of the Arctic Command of Greenland in Nuuk, reports "Gazeta.Ru".

On the eve, December 24, The New York Post reported that the purchase of Greenland by Trump would be the largest territorial acquisition of the United States in the history of the country. It would surpass even the purchase of Louisiana from France in 1803, which at one time nearly doubled the U.S. territory.

Members of the Danish Parliament, in turn, condemned Trump's words. They called the president-elect's statement unacceptable and characterized it as a "cynical policy of a superpower."

Trump, announcing the appointment of an ambassador to Denmark, emphasized on December 22 that for the United States "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." The American politician expressed interest in buying Greenland from Denmark back in 2019. At that time, he was turned down.

In addition, on December 22, Trump said that the United States will demand the return of control over the Panama Canal if the Central American republic does not revise the terms of its use. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, in turn, emphasized that the canal can not become the property of the United States.

Before that, on December 10, Trump said that Canada and Mexico could become US states. Later, on December 17, the media reported that Canada would spend $900 million to secure the border with the United States.