Washington [US], December 31: The U.S. State Department announced it has approved Denmark's proposal to purchase three P-8A aircraft from Boeing.
AFP reported on December 30 that the US has approved a $1.8 billion deal to sell maritime patrol aircraft to Denmark, despite rising tensions after a special envoy of US President Donald Trump called for the annexation of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The US State Department said it had approved Denmark's proposal to purchase three P-8A aircraft from Boeing.
In a notification to Congress, the U.S. State Department stated that the deal would "support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that plays a role in promoting political stability and economic progress in Europe." A week earlier, the State Department approved another deal worth nearly $1 billion to sell air-to-air missiles to Denmark.
The U.S. has long urged NATO allies to spend more on defense, amid President Trump's efforts to reduce the U.S. presence in Europe, even as Russia conducts a military campaign in Ukraine. Meanwhile, European countries were surprised by the U.S. president's desire to annex Greenland .
On December 21, President Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland. Landry immediately pledged to push for the island to become "part of the United States." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen criticized the appointment, saying it showed the US still wanted Greenland. Denmark summoned US Ambassador Kenneth Howery to protest.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
