Denmark signals its readiness to discuss enhancing the U.S. presence in Greenland.

The Danish government is sending confidential signals to the team of the elected U.S. President Donald Trump regarding readiness to negotiate on strengthening the security of Greenland.

Source. This is reported by Axios, citing its sources.

In particular, Copenhagen has proposed increasing the American military presence on the island. According to sources from the publication, the Danish government aims to avoid public disputes about the future of Greenland and convince Trump that his concerns about external threats can be mitigated without annexing it to the United States.

Messages conveyed to the new White House administration emphasize that the island is not for sale, but the authorities are open to discussing any other requests from Washington.

Currently, the U.S. has one military base in Greenland, which is crucial for the long-range ballistic missile detection system, as it provides the shortest route from Europe to North America. At the Thule Air Base, 200 U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel are on duty. The distance from there to Moscow is approximately 3757 km.

Washington also has a defense agreement with Denmark from 1951 regarding Greenland, under which the number of American troops on the island can be increased.

Danish officials have already stated that they would like to boost investments in Greenland's military potential and are consulting with its government on this matter. The island played a key role in the defense of the U.S. and NATO during the Cold War, being part of the early warning system for detecting Soviet submarines.

With the emergence of new shipping routes due to melting glaciers in the Arctic, Greenland is becoming increasingly significant given its location. In 2022, the Pentagon awarded a $4 billion contract to ensure the continuous operation of U.S. Air Force at the base, and in 2023, four F-35 fighter jets were deployed there for the first time.

Greenland, with a population of about 57,000 people, is an autonomous territory within Denmark and has its own government. Until 1953, the island was a colony of the kingdom. Since 2009, it has enjoyed extended autonomy, including the right to self-governance in internal affairs.

Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland should become part of the U.S. According to him, the island is strategically important for national security, including protection against China and Russia.

Moreover, according to Bloomberg, Washington is considering investing in the island's mining sector to counter Chinese dominance in the global rare earth metals market.

Earlier, it was reported that the Premier of Greenland expressed readiness for negotiations with Trump.