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US President Donald Trump has ridiculed Denmark’s attempts to defend Greenland with extra patrols, including two additional dog sleds, and insisted America would take control of the strategic Arctic island.
Denmark’s defense minister acknowledged the Nordic country has not done enough to protect its autonomous territory of Greenland, but revealed post-Trump plans to spend $1.5 billion on two new inspection ships, two drones and two dog sled patrols renewed his interest in the island.
“I really believe we will get Greenland – because it really has to do with the freedom of the world. It has nothing to do with the United States except that we are the ones who can provide freedom. They (Denmark) can’t do it. “They put two dog sleds there two weeks ago, they thought it would be protection,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One this weekend.
Last week, Trump had a 45-minute phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, which five current and former senior European officials described to the Financial Times fiery and confrontational.
The officials said the Danish government was in “crisis mode” after Trump took the unprecedented step of not ruling out military action to seize territory from a NATO ally and threatened targeted tariffs against him. The USA 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 with just 75 people and equipment, consisting of four ships, a surveillance aircraft and several dog sled patrols.
Both Danish and Greenlandic officials have said the US could increase its military presence on the island, and there have been regular discussions about a second base or more personnel.
Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s Defense Minister, said On Christmas Eve, Copenhagen announced that in addition to the new ships, drones and dog sled patrols, Copenhagen would also expand the runway at one of Greenland’s largest airports to accommodate F-35 fighter jets operated by both the U.S. and the Nordic country , could end up there.
The United States has repeatedly recognized Danish sovereignty over Greenland, not least when it purchased what are now the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.
But Trump said on Air Force One: “I don’t really know what Denmark’s right to this is, but it would be a very unkind act if they didn’t allow it because it’s to protect the free world. “It’s not for us , it’s for the free world. At the moment there are Russian ships, there are Chinese ships, there are ships from different countries. It’s not a good situation.”
He added: “I think Greenland will be sorted out with us. I think we will have it. I think people want to be with us.”
European countries are grappling with how to respond to Trump’s threats against Denmark without finding themselves in his crosshairs. Some have called on Frederiksen to “fight back” against the US president. So far, the Danish prime minister has insisted that Greenland is not for sale, but welcomed increasing US interest in the Arctic.
The Danish prime minister’s office said it “does not recognize the interpretation of the conversation” between Trump and Frederiksen, but declined to explain what details it disagreed with. U.S. officials did not dispute the Financial Times’ reporting.
