Denmark reasserted its control of Greenland in a massive military investment amid President Donald Trump insisting he’s serious about taking the island over, according to a Monday announcement.
The Danish Ministry of Defense announced they would spend $2.05 billion worth of Danish kroner to “assert sovereignty” over Greenland and the Faroe Islands, another island territory of the nation. Trump reiterated last Friday that he was taking negotiations for Greenland seriously, with the news reportedly shocking European officials as they scrambled to respond.
“Greenland is facing a changing security landscape,” Vivian Motzfeldt, Danish minister of statehood and foreign affairs said in the statement. “I am pleased with the steps we are taking towards increased security in and around Greenland with this partial defense agreement. Naalakkersuisut is looking forward to continuing the dialogue with the Government of Denmark.”
The investment includes building up new arctic-ready naval vessels, building two long-range surveillance drones, better satellites and ground-based sensors and increased arctic military training, according to the announcement. They also plan to upgrade the facilities of their joint military base with the island territory in Nuuk, Greenland.
“It is essential that the strengthened efforts in the Arctic and North Atlantic are carried out in close cooperation with the Faroe Islands and Greenland in order for the initiatives to be rooted in local communities and have a positive impact on civil society,” Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen said in the announcement. “That is what we will achieve with this agreement.”
Trump initially proposed taking over the island in 2019, which he ultimately abandoned after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shot down the idea. America currently operates Pittufik U.S. Space Base on the island, which operates a ballistic missile early warning system, according to the Department of Defense.
Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined with Danish parliament member Aaja Chemnitz on Monday to dismiss Trump’s quest to acquire Greenland, saying in a joint statement that the Danish territory is “not for sale.”
The White House and the Danish Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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