Denmark is increasing military spending in the North Atlantic amid President Donald Trump’s bid to have Greenland sold or ceded to the United States.

The move comes after President Donald Trump voiced his desire to acquire Greenland and refused to rule out using military force.

Denmark said on Monday it would spend 14.6 billion Danish kroner ($2.05 billion) boosting its military capabilities in the Arctic – a decision that comes amid continuing furor following US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in controlling Greenland,

Danish lawmakers initially agreed in 2021 to design new navy ships for patrolling and clean-up operations for environmental accidents in the Baltic Sea. The project will now be shifted to focus on acquiring vessels equipped for tasks around Greenland, the defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Monday, January 27, 2025, President Donald Trump mentioned that he still wanted to acquire Greenland, and Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is taking Trump seriously. Watch the video above for more details.

Interest in buying Greenland has "popped up from time to time in American politics," Tom Høyem, Denmark's former minister to Greenland, told ABC News in an interview.

It was a contentious, aggressive telephone call, five days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

US President Donald Trump has ridiculed Denmark’s attempts to defend Greenland with additional patrols including two extra dog sleds as he insisted America would take control of the strategically crucial Arctic island.

In Washington, some Trump allies are warming to the challenge. Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) this month introduced the “Make Greenland Great Again” Act, which would direct Congress to back Trump’s negotiations to acquire the territory.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen agreed at a meeting on Tuesday that allies need to focus on strengthening defences in the Arctic, a source familiar with the talks told Reuters.