Trump: Greenland's defense "like two dog sleds"
Published 19.41
Greenland's defense basically consists of two dog sleds, according to Donald Trump.
Therefore, the US must buy the island and equip it, believes the country's former ambassador to Greenland.
- Denmark does not have the capacity to develop Greenland, says Carla Sands, to the British LBC.
Greenland would have no chance if Russia or China attacked, Donald Trump has said.
The defense there, for which Denmark is responsible, is far too weak:
- Greenland should sign an agreement, because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over. Their defense is basically two dogsleds, he told Fox News last week.
Carla Sands, the US ambassador to Denmark between 2017 and 2021, agrees.
She tells BBC Newshour that Denmark neither wants nor can defend Greenland.
– Denmark does not have the capacity to develop Greenland. The people there want prosperity. They want opportunities, just like people in Britain or the United States. They want well-paid jobs. They want to be at the forefront and build welfare, get their “Greenlandic dream”. They will not get that with Denmark, she tells BBC Newshour.
Needs the island
In addition, the US needs Greenland in the expensive construction of the ”Golden Dome” that will protect the US against long-range missiles, says Sands.
The BBC presenter notes in the interview that the US has actually reduced its military strength in Greenland in recent years. He also notes that the US already has the opportunity to increase its military presence in Greenland through NATO cooperation.
But that is not enough, Carla Sands believes. She brings up a conversation from 2019, in which Danish Mette Fredriksen is said to have promised Trump to strengthen Greenland militarily:
– She said: Mr. President, I will invest 200 million dollars in defense and intelligence issues, and Greenland will end up in a better place. Do you know that she invested two million? One percent of the 200 million that she promised him, and that was not even for defense!
House that is too expensive
On the British radio program LBC, she is asked why it is not enough to increase the number of American soldiers in Greenland, and then gives an answer that goes directly against the NATO charter:
– Why would we defend Danish territory?
She then compares Greenland to a house that is too expensive for the Danes.
– If you own a home or a building that you can't afford, you should sell it.
Sands tells BBC Newshour that the Danes are resisting Trump's purchase demands because they "don't want to lose their place in the Arctic Club".
She dismisses the fact that the Greenlanders themselves have said that they want to continue to belong to Denmark as Danish propaganda.
She also claims that it is the USA that developed Greenland:
– When I left Greenland and Denmark as ambassador, I had established a consulate in Greenland. I had raised money so that the Greenlanders could develop "The Greenlandic Dream". But I could never get the Danes to spend any money on any infrastructure.
FACTS
Defense in Greenland
Greenland is part of Denmark, and therefore Denmark is responsible for defense and foreign policy.
In recent years, Denmark has increased its military presence on land, at sea and in the air, as a result of geopolitical tensions around the Arctic.
The United States also has a military presence in Greenland, something it has had the right to do since 1951 when a defense dialogue was entered into between Denmark and Greenland. The so-called Greenland Treaty gives the United States the right to be in Greenland and assist Denmark in defense on behalf of Greenland.
The largest American military facility is called Pituffik Space Base, which functions as a radar and space surveillance base.
After the Cold War, the United States significantly reduced its presence in Greenland. At that time, there were tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in Greenland. Today, there are approximately 150.
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