Government overspending on defense investments in the Arctic

In response to the American claim that Denmark has not done enough for security in the Arctic, the government has in the past week been able to hear the entire cabinet say that Denmark has invested 90 billion crowns.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M) said in TV Avisen on January 6th, "We have made our contribution by creating Arctic packages worth nearly 90 billion crowns."

He also wrote in a post on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/larsloekke_jeg-har-i-dag-bedt-om-et-m%C3%B8de-med-den-amerikanske-activity-7414415595070488577-4wD8/?originalSubdomain=dk).

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V) also delivered a clear message.

"Since the start of 2025, we have put in a lot of effort to strengthen the dialogue with the Greenlandic government regarding some of the absolutely necessary investments that have been backing for the efforts," he said after a meeting in the Foreign Policy Committee on January 8th.

"We have made two large investment packages in 2025 regarding strengthening our military capabilities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Together, the investments amount to around 85-87 billion Danish crowns," he said.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) also said the same thing.

"In the defense budget, there is allocated up to 90 billion to investments that also have an Arctic focus. This includes new fighter jets, increased air activity in general, ships, drones, and satellite cooperation," she said in Aftenshowet (https://www.dr.dk/drtv/se/aftenshowet_-trump-truer-kongeriget-danmark_-hvad-siger-mette-frederiksen_569708) on January 5th.

"Perhaps it is also efforts to make the number look extra attractive"

Hans Peter Michaelsen, independent defense analyst

But if one looks at the two Arctic packages that Denmark has made in 2025, they add up to 42 billion crowns in round numbers. Not 90.

So the question is, where does the government find the last 50 billion crowns that they say Denmark has invested in the Arctic.

In a written response from the defense minister, it sounds like the number covers "decisions with relevance for strengthening security and defense in the Arctic and the North Atlantic."

Here are among other things the 29 billion crowns that Denmark has allocated for 16 new F-35 fighter jets, also mentioned.

But it is taking "the mouth a little too far," thinks Hans Peter Michelsen, who is an independent defense analyst and retired major with over 40 years of service in the military.

"It is just overdoing it."

"It is not all 90 billion crowns that go to the Arctic area. There are certainly things that can be used in the Arctic if it becomes necessary."

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'Best efforts to make the number look extra attractive'

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It is not just the government that has used the number. Denmark's ambassador to the United States has also shared it on the social media platform X in English.

"Denmark takes the security of the Arctic very seriously. Alone in 2025, Denmark has allocated 13.7 billion dollars (approximately 88 billion Danish crowns, ed.) to strengthen capacities and operations in the Arctic," writes Jesper Møller Sørensen

Hans Peter Michelsen agrees that it could be fair enough to count, for example, the investment in additional 16 F-35 fighter jets with. But it will be a battle to get the budget to go up, he says.

"A part of the motivation for buying more fighter jets is that it gives the opportunity to send some to Greenland. So it makes sense."

"But one should probably say that there has been invested 42 billion crowns directly in the Arctic, and that there have been made a series of other investments that increase Denmark's ability to deploy different capacities in the Arctic area."

What is the problem with using the number?

"It looks better on paper. But if you look closer with a magnifying glass, you can see that it is not the whole that goes to the Arctic. It is also calculated for other places."

"So it is perhaps also efforts to make the number look extra attractive," says Hans Peter Michelsen.

According to him, Denmark could deploy 4-6 F-35 fighter jets at a time in Kangerlussuaq, where the military has facilities at the airport.

In October 2025, the defense budget decided to buy 16 additional F-35 fighter jets, so Denmark will have a total of 43 (Photo: © Emil Nicolai Helms, Ritzau Scanpix)

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Referring to the defense minister

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DR has asked both the prime minister, the foreign minister, and the defense minister why the government says 90 billion crowns instead of 42 billion crowns, and whether it is misleading, as all the 16 additional F-35 fighter jets, which are mentioned, will not be used exclusively in the Arctic.

None of the three ministers have wished to participate in an interview.

The prime minister refers the defense minister. The same goes for the foreign minister.

In a written response, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen mentions the two Arctic supplementary agreements, which have a value of 42 billion crowns, and that the military presence will be increased in Greenland with a new unit under the Arctic Command.

"In addition, it can also be mentioned that a decision has been made to acquire additional 16 F-35 fighter jets, so the military will have a total of 43 F-35 fighter jets. This strengthens our own and NATO's collective defense, including in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. In addition, we have decided to bring a fuel tanker capacity, which also supports operations with fighter jets in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, which already delivers operational effect."

"Therefore, in all, in 2025, decisions have been made about investments with relevance for strengthening security and defense in the Arctic and the North Atlantic for a total of good 88 billion crowns," writes the minister.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.