(MENAFN) Denmark has committed an additional $4.2bn (£3.2bn) in defence spending to strengthen its security presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions, including Greenland. This investment will be used to bolster its military capabilities with new equipment and strategic infrastructure.

As part of the initiative, Denmark will purchase 16 more F-35 fighter jets from the US, bringing its fleet to 43 advanced aircraft. “With this agreement, we significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Danish Armed Forces in the region,” said Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

The Arctic, a key crossroads for North America, Russia, and Europe, has become an increasingly critical area of strategic interest. Denmark’s military efforts are focused on ensuring security and, if necessary, providing defence within the NATO alliance framework. "The task of the Armed Forces is to ensure security throughout the Kingdom and, if necessary, to defend Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark," said Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard, without naming potential adversaries.

In collaboration with Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Denmark’s new defence package will include two Arctic ships, maritime patrol planes, drones, and early warning radar systems. A key development is the establishment of a new Arctic command headquarters in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, alongside a new military unit under Joint Arctic Command.

The package also includes funding for an undersea cable connecting Greenland and Denmark, further strengthening communications and logistical capabilities.

The heightened military focus on Greenland comes amid increasing global interest in the Arctic’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron. Greenland’s strategic location between North America and Russia has long made it important for military operations, with the US maintaining a radar base there since the Cold War and more recently establishing a large space facility. US President Donald Trump has emphasized the island’s importance in tracking Chinese and Russian naval movements and has previously suggested acquiring Greenland for its strategic value. However, Greenland’s prime minister has firmly stated that the island is not for sale, asserting that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland.”

The growing interest in the Arctic region and its resources, coupled with heightened geopolitical tensions, has led to an accelerated focus on military preparedness in the area.

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