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US President Donald Trump has ridiculed Denmark's attempts to defend Greenland with extra patrols including two additional sled dogs as he insisted on controlling the strategically crucial Arctic island.
Denmark's defense minister acknowledged the Nordic country had not done enough to protect its autonomous territory in Greenland, but revealed plans to spend $1.5 billion on two new inspection ships, two drones and two sled patrols after Trump He renewed his interest in the island.
“I think Greenland, we'll get — because it's really about the freedom of the world. It has nothing to do with the United States, other than we're the one who can provide freedom. They (Denmark) can't. It has nothing to do with the freedom of the world,” Trump told reporters at Air Force One this weekend. They put two sled dogs there two weeks ago, and they thought that was protection.”
Trump had a 45-minute phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week, which five current and former European officials described in the Financial Times as Fiery and confrontational.
Officials said the Danish government was in “crisis mode” after Trump took the unprecedented step of refusing to rule out military action to take territory from the NATO ally and threatened targeted tariffs against it. The United States already has the only military base in Greenland, in the north of the island.
Denmark's military presence in Greenland is currently limited to an Arctic command of just 75 people and equipment consisting of four ships, a surveillance aircraft and several sled dog patrols.
Both Danish and Green officials have said the United States could increase its military presence on the island, and there have been periodic discussions about a second or more staffed base.
Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defense of Denmark, He said On Christmas Eve, in addition to new ships, drones and glide patrols, Copenhagen will also upgrade the runway of one of Greenland's main airports to allow F-35 Fighter Jets—operated by the United States and the Nordic country—to land there.
The United States has repeatedly recognized Danish sovereignty over Greenland, not least when it purchased what are now the US Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.
But Trump said on Air Force One: “I don't really know what Denmark has for it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn't let it happen because it's to protect the free world. It's not ours, it's the free world. Right now, you have Russian ships, You have Chinese ships, you have ships from different countries. It is not a good situation.”
He added: “I think Greenland will be placed with us. I think we will have it. I think people will want to be with us.”
European countries are scrambling to unify how to respond to Trump's threats against Denmark without ending up in his crosshairs. Some have urged Frederiksen to “fight” against the US president. So far, the Danish Prime Minister has insisted that Greenland is not for sale but has welcomed increased US interest in the Arctic.
The Danish Prime Minister's office said it “does not acknowledge the interpretation of the conversation” between Trump and Frederiksen, but declined to explain details he did not agree with. US officials did not dispute the FT's reports.
