COPENHAGEN --- New, long-range drones will strengthen surveillance and sovereignty enforcement in the Arctic and North Atlantic, the parties behind the first partial agreement under the new defense settlement have decided, with the involvement of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
In order to strengthen surveillance in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, additional funding is set aside for the purchase of long-range drones as part of the first sub-agreement under the new defense settlement.
Behind the agreement are the government, the Socialist People's Party, the Danish Democrats, the Liberal Alliance, the Conservative People's Party, the Radical Left and the Danish People's Party. The agreement has been drawn up with the close involvement of the Faroese government and Greenland's Naalakkersuisut.
"We have a special obligation in relation to our immediate area, and the Kingdom must in future take greater responsibility for security in the entire region. This means that we have to use more muscle in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. Therefore, I am also very satisfied that we have agreed to secure the financing for the acquisition of long-range drones in the first partial agreement. Thus delivering on one of the key decisions from the Arctic capacity package," says Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
With advanced radar, sensor and signal acquisition technology, the drones must, among other things, help monitor the ever-increasing activities in the Arctic and the North Atlantic for both civilian and military use.
The decision to acquire the drones was made in connection with the agreement on the Arctic capacity package, which was concluded in 2021. Due to price increases, however, it has been necessary to secure additional financing for the acquisition in the first partial agreement. It is a priority for the parties to the agreement and Naalakkersuisut that the acquisition is in place as soon as possible.
The agreement also prioritizes setting up an air warning radar in the Faroe Islands as soon as possible in cooperation between Danish and Faroese authorities. The air warning radar will lead to a significant strengthening of monitoring of the airspace in the North Atlantic. The decision to acquire the air warning radar has a background in the Arctic capacity package and a separate agreement between the government and the national government.
In addition, there is agreement to support the positive search for Arctic Basic Education in Greenland, including if possible and relevant with a strengthened intake on the education, as well as to examine the development potential for the scheme with Greenland guardians.
The first partial agreement also includes investment in other military capabilities, such as air defenses for the Army and weapons for the Navy, as well as initiatives to strengthen the recruitment and retention of employees.
The initiatives must contribute to ensuring that the Ministry of Defence's group has the prerequisites to build up the defense area and fulfill the ambition to strengthen Danish defense and security, and that Denmark can meet NATO force targets to a greater extent.
Naalakkersuisut Councillor for Independence and Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt states: "In addition to following the existing political agreement on the long-range donations to the door, the first partial agreement ensures that in the future we can support the very positive search for Arctic Basic Education that has been in Greenland. It is of paramount importance to me that the task of strengthening the defense of and security in Greenland also benefits the Greenlandic population. Through Naalakkersuisut's involvement in the first partial agreement, the framework for cooperation with the Danish government on the future partial agreements has been set. I very much look forward to the discussions ahead, both with the Minister of Defence and with the Greenlandic parties in Inatsisartut."
(The Naalakkersuisut is the chief executive body and the government of Greenland--Ed.)
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