News
News
The agreement strengthens the Danish Defence capabilities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic with high-tech capabilities for surveillance, increased presence and a new military training in Greenland, for the benefit of the entire Danish Realm.
The Danish Government (the Social Democratic Party) and Venstre (The Liberal Party), the Danish People’s Party, the Social Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Alliance have entered into a framework agreement on the strengthening of the Danish Defence capabilities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. The agreement translates the 1.5 billion DKK from the 2019 Supplemental Agreement to the Danish Defence Agreement 2018-2023 into concrete actions.
The Parties agree that Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland have a special responsibility for defence and security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. The framework will significantly strengthen the Danish Defence’s capabilities to track and monitor the steadily increasing activities in the region. This will be done through investments in high-tech unmanned systems and capabilities. The efforts take place in dialogue and cooperation with the United States and other Arctic allies, while founded in NATO. Political support from the Faroe Islands and Greenland to the radars and construction work is of key importance. The Danish Ministry of Defence has a close dialogue with the Faroe Islands and Greenland and looks forward to their responses and a continued close cooperation.
The Parties want the increased and strengthened capabilities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic to provide both military and civilian benefits. The framework agreement should therefore also strengthen the capabilities of the Danish Defence to support civil society through search and rescue operations, emergency operations, environmental surveillance, fisheries control, monitoring of the climate and research etc.
The increased presence should be done in a way that limits the carbon footprint in the vulnerable Artic environment. This will be done through inter alia the use of drones and satellites as well as energy efficient solutions in the implementation of the initiatives.
In cooperation with Naalakkersuisut (The Government of Greenland) a new basic military training will be established to strengthen Greenlandic citizens’ opportunity to take part in the defence of Greenland.
LINK: Agreement on Arctic Capabilities
Minister of Defence, Trine Bramsen, The Social Democratic Party, states:
Lars Christian Lilleholt, Venstre (The Liberal Party), states:
Søren Espersen, the Danish People’s Party, states:
Martin Lidegaard, the Social Liberal Party, states:
Niels Flemming-Hansen, the Conservative Party, states:
Henrik Dahl, the Liberal Alliance, states:
Jan Johansen, Social Democratic Party, states:
Christoffer Aagaard Melson, Arctic spokesman, Venstre (The Liberal Party):
New capabilities and initiatives in million DKK:
Capability | Acquisition* (million DKK) |
Air surveillance radar on the Faroe Islands | 390 |
Long endurance surveillance drones | 750 ** |
Spaces based surveillance | 85 |
Ground station | 40 |
Satellite communication | (operation) |
Coastal radars | 20 |
Ship-based tactical UAS | 60 |
Intelligence processing and analysis | 20 |
Tactical communication links | 40 |
Basic military training in Greenland | 50 |
Exercises and training | 35 |
Space industry and research fund | 10 |
Liaison officers | (operation) |
Asiaq and cooperation with other Greenlandic institutions (up to 10m DKK annually) | (operation) |