Kanada und Dänemark vertiefen ihre Verteidigungsbeziehungen nach der drohenden Annexion Grönlands

>Senior federal officials, speaking on background at a technical briefing this week, said the new agreement captures and improves upon many of the aspects of defence co-operation that already exist between Canada and Denmark.

>For example, Denmark contributes a significant number of troops to the Canadian-led NATO multinational brigade defending Latvia. Separately, the Danish defence acquisition ministry is a big customer for Canadian-made assault rifles, signing last September a multimillion-dollar contract for 26,000 C-8 MRR (modular rail rifle) carbines.

>The agreement signed Friday increases co-operation in the areas of surveillance and joint operations, the Danish Ministry of Defence said.

>Senior Canadian officials, who spoke earlier in the week in a briefing intended to set up the prime minister’s trip, said negotiations toward the agreement predate U.S. President Donald Trump’s drive to annex Greenland.

>“The text of the agreement has not changed“ as a result of the increased tensions over Greenland, said one senior official.

>Trump has long had an interest in asserting U.S. „ownership and control“ over the Arctic island, saying it was an „absolute necessity“ for national security.

>The U.S. administration reportedly ordered plans for a „possible invasion,“ prompting Denmark and eight NATO allies to deploy defensive forces to the Arctic island.

The government really should apply to join JEF already.