Source: BBC, "European Truth"
Details: Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that the defense package amounts to a "double-digit billion sum" in crowns, or at least $1.5 billion.
He described the timing of the announcement as "ironic," as on Monday, Trump claimed that ownership and control over the vast island is an "absolute necessity" for the United States.
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, hosts a significant American space facility and holds strategic importance for the U.S. as it lies on the most direct route to Europe. It possesses large reserves of minerals and oil.
According to Poulsen, this package will allow for the acquisition of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and two additional dog sled teams.
It also includes funding to increase the staff of the Arctic Command in the capital Nuuk and to upgrade one of the three main civilian airports in Greenland to accommodate supersonic F-35 fighter jets.
"We have not invested enough in the Arctic for many years; now we plan to strengthen our presence," he stated.
The Defense Minister did not specify the exact amount of the package, but Danish media estimated it to be around 12-15 billion crowns.
This announcement was made the day after Trump stated on his social platform Truth Social: "In the interests of national security and freedom worldwide, the United States believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede responded to Trump's comments, stating that "we are not for sale."
However, he added that Greenlanders should remain open to cooperation and trade, especially with their neighbors.
Analysts say that the plan to strengthen Greenland's defense has been under discussion for a long time and should not be viewed as a direct response to Trump's comments.
So far, Denmark has been very slow to expand its military capabilities in Greenland, they note, but if the country cannot protect the waters surrounding the territory from incursions by China and Russia, the U.S. demands for greater control are likely to increase.