War, raw materials and increased focus on Greenland have pushed the desire for better defence in the Arctic closer to reality. Source: Rasmus Balle Hansen.
A new fleet plan for the Arctic and the North Atlantic will soon be launched. A billion-dollar plan will send worn-out ships to retirement and improve defence at home.
Svendborg Værft A/S, 1991, says a green copper sign on the deck of the inspection ship Vædderen.
The 34-year-old ship is one of a total of four ships that patrol the waters and along the coasts of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
However, that time is soon over, because the ship—along with the other three—will be retired.
“It is a ship that has sailed for many years, and which of course wears out,” says electrical officer Alexander, who has sailed on the Vædderen for a total of one year.
As part of the technical division, he walks around the ship and down into the engine rooms with his flashlight on a daily basis and is responsible for ensuring that everything works as it should.
“Many of our systems are older. There are many spare parts that are no longer produced in the same way and have to be specially manufactured,” he says.
As electrical officer Alexander is responsible for ensuring that the Vædderen stays afloat. Source: Rasmus Balle Hansen
Since the autumn, the Danish government, together with the Greenlandic Government and the Faroese Government, have been negotiating which tasks the Defence Force will carry out in the Arctic and North Atlantic in the future.
Including which ships will be included in the new fleet plan, which will help upgrade the Navy.
The first partial agreement for the defence in the Arctic and North Atlantic was presented on 27 January this year. Here, the politicians said that, among other things, they had agreed to buy three new Arctic ships, which will replace the almost 40-year-old Thetis-class ships that are currently sailing here.
Defence Agreement For The Arctic And The North Atlantic
The first partial agreement for the Defence in the Arctic was presented on January 27, 2025. The agreement runs until 2033.
A preliminary amount of DKK 14.6 billion has been allocated, which will, among other things, go to three new Arctic ships, two long-range drones for surveillance and several land-based radars.
In addition, more young people in Greenland will be enrolled in Arctic Basic Training in Kangerlussuaq.
On April 22 this year, the first part of the naval plan for the Navy was presented. The purchase list included a total of 26 ships that will help improve safety and defence at sea.
However, the plans for the navy and defence in the Arctic are still under negotiation. We will most likely learn much more about the full number of ships and equipment within the next few months.
“We are also aware that the security situation has changed, and we must take this into account,” said Vivian Motzfeldt from the Greenlandic Minister for Foreign Affairs at a press conference where the partial agreement was presented.
“For me, the acquisition of new Arctic ships has been a major priority. I know what a big role they play. They mean a lot to the security of individual Greenlanders,” she said.
Major Investments In Sight
But the partial agreement is only the tip of the iceberg. Chapter two of the Defence Agreement—including the Arctic naval plan—is scheduled to be ready before the summer holidays.
We do not yet know what exactly it will contain—and what demands the Greenlandic Minister for Foreign Affairs has for the plan.
At the beginning of the year, Vivian Motzfeldt mentioned that three ships were not enough, and she recently told KNR that security here depends to a large extent on better monitoring of the enormous areas around Greenland—especially in the east and northeast.
“In January, we concluded the first part of the new defence agreement with Denmark, and we are now facing the next part this summer with greater implementation. It is to ensure increased surveillance in areas that have so far been without sufficient control,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs.
“It is not only about ships, but also about satellites and drones. We are talking about capabilities that can identify and respond faster to incidents, so that we can immediately understand what is happening,” she said.
The first part of the Arctic defence agreement also states that surveillance of Greenland will be increased with more satellites, ground-based radars and long-range drones. Drones that will “occasionally” be based in Kangerlussuaq.
The plans for the fleet and the new ships are something that the electrical officer on the inspection ship Vædderen thinks will be exciting to follow. Although he enjoys sailing with the Vædderen.
“Many of us humans are creatures of habit. But I have no doubt that these will also be some great ships,” says Alexander and continues:
“Getting out on new ships will be a pleasure.”
A robust defence in Greenland and the Arctic is central to security in the West, both Trump and politicians here at home and in Denmark have said again and again. A billion-dollar investment in the fleet is therefore close to being launched, and the worn-out ships patrolling Greenland and the Faroe Islands must be replaced.
Source: KNR (in Greenlandic)