DENMARK it will strengthen its defence
capabilities in the Arctic, including long-range drones
and radars, as shrinking sea ice has made the region more accessible. Reuters
reports.
The move comes as both Russia has been
building up its own military capabilities in the region, and China has
become active though Denmark and other Arctic nations have also tried in recent
decades to keep the region what they call a "low tension" area.
Lawmakers in the Nordic country agreed to spend half of the
allocated US$245 million on drones to improve surveillance in
Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.
Nearly 400 million will be spend on an air surveillance
radar in the Faroe Islands located in the North Atlantic.
"We have seen an increase in foreign activities in the
Arctic and the North Atlantic," Defence Minister Trine Bramsen
said in statement.
"We need better surveillance and presence in the
region - not to escalate conflicts, but because we need to take the threats
seriously," she said.
The United States also has increased focus on the Arctic and Greenland in recent years. Former president Donald Trump offered in 2019 to buy Greenland, the world largest island, from Denmark.
The US bought the US Virgin Island from
Denmark in 1917 for $587.39 million in 2019 dollars.
NATO-member Denmark
currently has one aircraft, four helicopters and four ships to monitor the vast
area. In addition to enforcing sovereignty, they handle fishing inspection and
search-and-rescue operations. Six sleds powered by 80 dogs patrol the remote
northeastern part.
Source : HKSG / Photo : World Maps, detik Travel.
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