Denmark to boost military presence in and around Greenland

Denmark announced on Wednesday that it is increasing "military presence in and around Greenland in the coming period, involving aircraft, ships, and soldiers." The Danish defense ministry said "security policy tensions have spread to the Arctic" and that the moves are being carried out in close cooperation with NATO allies.

The statement said there would be more military exercises in Greenland with European and Arctic partners but did not say whether American forces would be invited. Danish news outlets broadcast footage of a small military jet landing in Nuuk and a few men stepping off. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the Danes for not doing enough to protect Greenland, and on Wednesday morning he said that anything less than U.S.

control of the island was "unacceptable." The article noted that Denmark has maintained a light military presence on the island but has recently announced improvements, including more surveillance flights and more personnel. During the Cold War the United States had many bases in Greenland; more recently it has cut that back to one remote missile tracking station.

Denmark said the increased presence and activity has the full backing of Greenland's semiautonomous government and included a vote of support from Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland's foreign minister, who was in Washington with a delegation for talks about the island's future.

Key Topics

World, Denmark, Greenland, Nato, Vivian Motzfeldt, Arctic