President Trump refused to rule out military action on Greenland in January 2025. Denmark owns this Arctic island, but Trump wants it.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen traveled to Paris, Berlin, and Brussels to rally support. European leaders publicly backed Copenhagen. Then, by August, Denmark announced it would fund $500 million worth of American weapons for Ukraine alongside Norway and Sweden. These purchases go through NATO, benefiting US defense contractors but not equipping Danish forces.
At the same time, Copenhagen rejected a $8.5 billion deal for American Patriot missile systems for its own military. Instead, Denmark chose Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense systems.
This contradiction captures Denmark’s dilemma: satisfy Trump by purchasing American arms through Ukraine while avoiding direct dependence on Washington for its own defense.
Greenland Threats Force Procurement Gymnastics
Trump’s push for Greenland started before his second inauguration. On January 8, 2025, he publicly questioned Denmark’s legal claim to the island. Danish officials scrambled to respond.
Weeks later, Frederiksen announced a $2 billion investment in Greenland’s security to buy patrol boats and surveillance equipment, signaling Copenhagen’s resolve but falling short of satisfying Trump.
Washington demands allies share security costs, measuring commitment largely by arms purchases. Denmark sought a way to fulfill this demand by funding American weapons for others, without buying them for itself.
The solution was Ukraine. European countries pledged over $1 billion in American arms for Kyiv by early August 2025. Denmark’s contribution was half a billion dollars through this mechanism.
Paying Twice for Different Purposes
Denmark funds American Patriot missiles for Ukraine’s battlefields but purchases Franco-Italian SAMP/T systems for defending Danish territory. This dual procurement is more expensive than picking a single supplier.
Western diplomats told CNN that a year ago, American systems would have secured the contracts. However, Trump’s Greenland threats changed the logic – politics trumped technical specs.
The U.S. State Department approved Denmark’s Patriot purchase in August 2025, but Copenhagen revealed the SAMP/T decision two weeks later.
Lockheed Martin lost the $8.5 billion contract but gained smaller orders through Ukrainian channels.
Trump secures income for American defense firms; Denmark asserts symbolic independence. Yet neither gains real security.
Russian Ships Operate During Procurement Debates
The tanker Boracay stationed off Denmark from September 22-25, 2025. During this time, drones flew over Copenhagen airports, forcing brief runway closures.
Danish investigators linked three ships with Russian ties to these incidents but made no arrests as the government finalised the SAMP/T missile contract with European firms.
France detained the Boracay on 1 October after it entered French waters, arresting its captain and first officer amid suspicions that drones were operated from the vessel.
Denmark’s new air defense systems counter aerial threats – but Russian ships still operate offshore. The $9 billion SAMP/T systems can intercept missiles and aircraft but offer no defense against hostile vessels in international waters.
American Money Buys Ukrainian Protection
Denmark’s financing of Ukraine’s weapons meets Trump’s burden-sharing demands but leaves Danish vulnerabilities unaddressed. This approach channels European funds through American defense manufacturers toward Ukrainian battlefields.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Britain, and Denmark all participated, emphasizing the need for speed as funds quickly flowed into American production.
Ukraine gets the Patriot missiles Denmark declines for itself; Kyiv receives American artillery Denmark pays for through NATO. This setup serves everyone except Danish security.
Copenhagen relies on European systems that will take years to arrive while protecting Ukraine immediately with American systems. This reveals how Trump’s policies distort European defense planning.
Contradictions Define Transatlantic Relations
Denmark’s defense committee head expressed regret over choosing F-35 fighters and urged avoiding American weapons where possible in future purchases.
Yet these F-35 jets remain in use, with Denmark dependent on U.S. parts and maintenance for years, making true military autonomy impossible while operating American aircraft.
French President Macron estimated that Russia’s shadow fleet includes 600 to 1,000 vessels, generating billions for Moscow’s war effort. At least 11 undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have been cut over two years, with authorities suspecting Russian-linked ships.
Denmark buys missiles, but Russian tankers move freely off its coast. The gap between procurement and actual threat continues to widen.
Europe Pays Premium for Political Autonomy
The SAMP/T systems are more expensive and slower to deploy than Patriot missiles. Denmark accepts these drawbacks to avoid dependence on Washington.
Copenhagen bets on European defense production maturing before threats become critical – a risky gamble given the limited time.
France released the Boracay after two days, allowing it to resume its journey to India. The captain returned onboard, with no lasting consequences.
Europe lacks effective tools to counter maritime threats that Trump overlooks. The American weapons Denmark pays for protecting Ukraine, while European arms serve Denmark’s own political statements.
The Paradox Trump Created
Copenhagen funds American arms for Ukraine but refuses them for Denmark itself – satisfying Trump’s financial demands but not his territorial ambitions.
Denmark pays billions to American contractors through Ukraine, billions more to European companies for its defense, yet gains neither Greenland’s security nor Trump’s favor.
Trump’s Greenland threats push Denmark into procurement contortions with no strategic gain, while Russian ships continue circling Danish coasts as missile debates drag on with European manufacturers.
Trump demands money and land; Denmark offers money channeled through Ukraine. Trump takes the cash and keeps pressing on Greenland.
Denmark’s strategy assumes that buying American weapons for others protects it from American territorial claims.
This remains untested as Russian ships keep patrolling Nordic waters and Denmark waits years for European missiles meant to counter aerial threats that these ships circumvent.
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