Posted on 12/24/2024 11:32:35 AM PST by xxqqzz
The Danish government has announced a huge boost in defence spending for Greenland, hours after US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the package was a "double digit billion amount" in krone, or at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn).
He described the timing of the announcement as an "irony of fate". On Monday Trump said ownership and control of the huge island was an "absolute necessity" for the US.
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, is home to a large US space facility and is strategically important for the US, lying on its shortest route to Europe. It has major mineral reserves.
Poulsen said the package would allow for the purchase of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones and two extra dog sled teams.
It would also include funding for increased staffing at Arctic Command in the capital Nuuk and an upgrade for one of Greenland's three main civilian airports to handle F-35 supersonic fighter aircraft.
"We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years, now we are planning a stronger presence," he said.
The defence minister did not give an exact figure for the package, but Danish media estimated it would be around 12-15bn krone.
The announcement came a day after Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded to Trump's comments, saying "we are not for sale".
But he added that Greenlanders should continue to be open for cooperation and trade, especially with their neighbours.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
This is almost comical
Instant results.
Had to double check that it wasn’t the Babylon Bee.
Lotsa green in Greenland.
Denmark beefing up defenses? Are they serious? The the Bee just add a b to the end of their name?
Wow
A couple of extra dog-sled teams.
That should seal it.
They doubled the defence of Greenland. Now there are two constables there.
Kind of makes you wonder. Was this whole thing just a psyop to get the Danes to do a better job of defending it? Is this trolling on hard mode?
He thinks we’re going to send the military to take it?
He thinks Denmark could do anything about it if we did?
This is how he negotiates?
What a freaking maroon.
We already have a base on Greenland. Is Denmark gonna attack it? With what?
Probably Trump's real goal. Denmark hadn't put enough troops there to repel a Chinese balloon, let alone an expeditionary force.
XD.
The US probably has more military there than the Danes do.
Denmark is comical. A lady defends herself from sexual assault with petter spray, and she gets arrested. A woke government runs Denmark. Trump want to buy it not invade it. The Danish Government is run my loons
Heck I laughed.
Is he using those coins with a hole in the middle?
Trump just wants to keep the chinese out
just dont make any stupid deals with the chinese
and youll be fine
China wants Greenland for its minerals...think Trump is offering 59 billion to buy it ..
That’s certainly true at Thule, where there is one constable, there more or less to keep a look out for Denmark’s interests. I don’t think it is smart to antagonize the Danes, who are actually very good friends of ours. Because they fear and hate the Russians. The Danes take good care of the Inuits and see what goes on in the American Virgin Islands, which they sold to us, and on Indian Reservations. They don’t want Greenland to be a vast and sparsely settle Indian reservation.
The title is very misleading. The BBC is trying to make Trump sound dangerous.
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