Denmark is increasing defense spending in Greenland, said a Danish official Tuesday who called the announcement's timing with President-elect Trump's suggestion that the U.S. should own the territory an "irony of fate.

Denmark announced a major new package to boost the security of Greenland in a move the Danish defense minister called “ironic” because it came just two days after President-elect Trump called for U.S.

Denmark increases defense spending as President-elect Trump calls acquiring Greenland a U.S. “necessity.” Danish officials call the timing “ironic.”

The Danish government has announced a huge boost in defense spending for Greenland, hours after US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the package was a "double-digit billion amount" in krone, or at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn).

Denmark has earmarked $1.5 billion in defense spending for Greenland after Donald Trump again made overtures to buy the autonomous territory.

Former national security adviser Robert O’Brien said in a Sunday interview that Denmark should let the U.S. “buy” Greenland if it cannot defend the self-governing country, noting the territory will become increasingly important in the coming years.

Former Trump national security advisor Robert O'Brien explained on FNC's "Sunday Morning Futures" why Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland and control the Panama Canal. Both Trump targets have given strong pushback regarding any potential takeovers,