Denmark has confirmed the purchase of 16 new F-35 fighter jets, describing the move as a “historic reinforcement” of the country’s defense capabilities. The acquisition brings the total number of Danish F-35s to 43 and is part of a broader security package worth 27.4 billion Danish kroner (€3.7 billion), aimed at strengthening defense and infrastructure in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called the decision “a historic strengthening of Danish security,” highlighting both its military and strategic importance. “We have reached an agreement with the Greenlandic government after several rounds of dialogue in Nuuk,” Poulsen told Danish public broadcaster DR. “This will not only make Denmark and Greenland safer within the NATO framework, but also provide better living conditions for the local population.” A significant portion of the investment will go toward Arctic defense initiatives, including the establishment of a new Arctic Command headquarters in Nuuk and the construction of a subsea cable connecting Greenland and Denmark—a move seen as key to improving both defense communications and civilian connectivity in the North Atlantic. Denmark’s Chief of Defence, General Michael Hyldgaard, emphasized that the Danish armed forces’ responsibility extends beyond the mainland. “We must ensure the security of the entire Kingdom—Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands—within NATO’s framework and across all domains,” Hyldgaard said. “With this agreement, we are significantly strengthening our combat capability and effectiveness in the Arctic and North Atlantic.” The new F-35s are expected to enhance Denmark’s ability to patrol and respond to emerging security challenges in the High North—a region of growing strategic competition between NATO and Russia. The decision marks one of Denmark’s largest defense investments in decades and underscores Copenhagen’s commitment to both collective defense and Arctic sovereignty.
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