Denmark Allocates Additional 10 Trillion Won for Defense Spending... Rising Security Concerns [Trump X Greenland]

"Buy, buy, and buy again"
Prime Minister orders Defense Minister to purchase weapons
United States reveals ambitions for Greenland, grows closer to Russia

Editor's NoteGreenland, a frozen land home to about 56,000 people, is rapidly emerging as a new arena for power competition. As climate change melts the glaciers covering Greenland, the Arctic sea routes have opened, and the extraction of underground resources buried nearby has become possible, increasing both military and economic value. When U.S. President Donald Trump openly revealed his territorial expansion ambitions to acquire Danish Greenland, Denmark responded by pledging to invest 3 trillion won in Arctic defense spending. The desire for independence among the people of Greenland is more heightened than ever. Ahead of the early general election in March, we examine Greenland's political situation and the intentions of the global powers surrounding it.

Denmark, which refuses to sell Greenland, has decided to allocate an additional 50 billion Danish kroner (about 10 trillion won) for defense spending this year and next. This decision was made as security concerns escalated due to U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal to withdraw his intention to purchase Greenland and his close cooperation with Russia.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently announced at a press conference that along with the additional defense budget, she has instructed the military authorities to expedite weapon deliveries. Frederiksen stated that with this increase, Denmark's defense spending will exceed 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She emphasized, "We are in the most dangerous situation in years," and said, "The message to the Minister of Defense is clear: buy, buy, and buy again. The only thing that matters is speed."

She continued, "If we cannot purchase the best weapons, we must buy the next best option," and instructed, "If it takes too long to acquire the weapons we want, we must choose others that can be delivered more quickly." She also announced plans to significantly shorten the procurement bidding process.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is holding a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Copenhagen on the 19th. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The apparent background for this decision is the threat from Russia. However, the complex causes also include President Trump's plan to seize Greenland, subsequent cuts in U.S. defense budget support for Europe, and the close ties between the U.S. and Russia.

Truls Lund Poulsen, Denmark's Minister of Defense, projected that with this increase, Denmark's defense spending will reach 3.2% of GDP. Until 2022, Denmark's defense spending remained at about 1.1 to 1.3% of GDP. Traditionally, Denmark has been considered one of the European Union's (EU) "Frugal Four" along with Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Earlier, Denmark also decided to invest 3 trillion won (14.6 billion kroner) in Arctic defense. This budget includes costs for deploying three new naval vessels in the Arctic, operating four long-range surveillance drones, and satellite monitoring equipment.