Greenland wants to extend its defense agreement with the United States directly, without the participation of Denmark, Greenlandic MP from the government coalition party Siumut Kuno Fenker said.
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“We are a de facto NATO country here through Denmark. The United States has a military presence. We have a defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. We want to renew that, but with a defense agreement only between Greenland and the United States. And we can also have agreement with Denmark separately. We can even conclude a bilateral agreement with the EU. The possibilities are open,” he said.
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On Wednesday, TV2 channel, citing a classified report from the Danish Armed Forces, reported that Denmark plans to build a military air base in western Greenland as a “show of force”, as well as to increase the personnel of the main headquarters of the Arctic Command of the Armed Forces in the capital of the island of Nuuk.
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At the beginning of May 2024, the head of the Danish Ministry of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, said that the country’s government was considering strengthening its military presence in Greenland. It was noted that, among other things, the possibility of stationing units of the Arctic Command in Kangerlussuaq is being considered. Poulsen stressed that the question of how the armed forces would develop the local airfield was being considered.
In the run-up to taking office as president, Donald Trump stated several times that Greenland should become part of the United States. According to him, the island is strategically important for national security and the defense of the “free world,” including from China and Russia. At the same time, the future head of the White House refused to promise that he would not use military force to establish control over this territory.
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Until 1953, Greenland was a colony of Denmark and is still part of the kingdom. In 2009, it received autonomy with the possibility of self-government and independent choice in domestic policy.
