Despite tense relations with Donald Trump, who wants to annex Greenland, one of its autonomous territories, Denmark confirmed this Friday that it wants to buy 16 new American F-35 combat aircraft to reinforce its defense system, the Minister of Defense announced, two weeks after the flight over its airspace of drones of unidentified origin.
“We have reached a political agreement to acquire 16 additional F-35 fighter jets, (…) to have more operational fighter jets in the future,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said at a news conference.
This purchase, which will bring the number of F-35s in the Danish fleet to 43, costs 29 billion crowns (3.88 billion euros).
Anti-drone team
“With the additional acquisition of F-35 fighters, our combat capability is significantly strengthened, directly contributing to NATO’s deterrence and collective defense force,” said Chief of the Defense Staff Michael Hyldgaard.
Denmark will also acquire equipment to combat drone incursions for around 2.1 billion crowns (281 million euros).
Finally, Copenhagen, attacked by Washington, which covets Greenland, for its lack of commitment to the security of the Arctic, will invest 27.4 billion crowns (3.66 billion euros) in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.
“What we are doing now is ensuring that the Arctic remains a low-tension zone, but it is clear that there are growing tensions over how, among other things, Russia perceives the Arctic,” the minister said.
Source: BFM TV
