Denmark's defence is to be strengthened in the Arctic and North Atlantic through new investments totalling 27.4 billion Danish kroner. This is stated in a press release from the Danish Ministry of Defence on 10 October.
The agreement, which has been made in cooperation with the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) and the Faroese Government, includes, among other things, new ships, aerial reconnaissance capability, a new command structure in Nuuk, and enhanced ground presence.
– With this second agreement, we strengthen the defence's capabilities in the region, including more Arctic ships and aerial reconnaissance capability. I appreciate the close cooperation with both Naalakkersuisut and the Faroese Government, says Denmark's Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen in the press release.
In the ground area, the establishment of a new headquarters for Arctic Command in Nuuk, a new military unit in Greenland, and a special Arctic reinforcement unit under the Special Operations Command are included.
In naval defence, procurement of two new Arctic ships and a new capability for maritime aerial reconnaissance is taking place. The investments also include access to icebreaker resources and an underwater cable system across the North Atlantic.
The air area includes the acquisition of drones and a new radar station for air surveillance in eastern Greenland.
The initiative is a continuation of previous decisions on increased military presence in the region, including the first Arctic and North Atlantic agreement from January 2025 and a political framework from July of the same year regarding surveillance and ship production.