Surprise! Donald Trump’s big, audacious ambition to buy Greenland from Denmark has a tech angle. Ken Howery, named as U.S. President-elect Trump’s pick to be the next ambassador to the country (and thus chief broker of any deal), is one more part of the rich seam of tech people running through Trump’s upcoming administration. Part […]
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President-Elect Donald Trump, is visiting Greenland this week.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Donald Trump Jr. is visiting Greenland, a territory his father said the US should take over.
President-elect Trump recently resurfaced a first-term idea of his to buy the Arctic island.
Greenland and Denmark have strongly rebuffed the idea.
Donald Trump Jr. is heading to Greenland shortly after his father renewed remarks that the US should take over the Danish territory.
President-Elect Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday that his eldest son and "various representatives" would be traveling to the Arctic island to "visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights."
Trump added that "the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation."
The post was accompanied by a video featuring someone, seemingly from Greenland, wearing a MAGA hat and saying that the country doesn't want to be "colonized" by Denmark anymore.
Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a US ally and NATO member.
A private visit
In a statement provided to Business Insider, Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged Trump Jr.'s trip but said it had no further comment as it was not an "official American visit."
During his first term in office, Trump proposed that the US buy Greenland, which the country's then-Prime Minister, Kim Kielsen, firmly rejected, saying, "Greenland is not for sale and cannot be sold."
In recent weeks, as he gears up for his second term, Trump has once again revisited the idea of buying the massive island, which is replete with natural resources.
On December 23, he said in a Truth Social post that ownership and control of Greenland is an "absolute necessity" for the US.
Reuters, citing a source familiar with the upcoming trip, said Trump Jr. will not be meeting Greenlandic politicians and is instead traveling to the country to record video footage for a podcast.
Representatives for Trump Jr. did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Jessie Brinkman Evans/Getty Images
Elon Musk, who is expected to help guide Trump's second term, has also weighed in, posting on X that "the people of Greenland should decide their future and I think they want to be part of America!"
While Greenland residents hold Danish citizenship, the government manages local affairs.
In response to President-Elect Trump's post in December, Greenland's Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, said, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our struggle for freedom."
In a recent speech, Egede expressed hopes that the territory would pursue independence from Denmark.
Hours after Trump's December post, the Danish government announced a huge boost in defense spending for Greenland. On Monday, King Frederik of Denmark updated the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Trump, who will take office on January 20, has also referred to Canada as the "51st state."
The governments of Denmark and Greenland said the island wasn't for sale after Donald Trump expressed intentions to buy it.
Getty Images/Steve Allen Photo
Denmark plans to invest at least $1.5 billion to enhance Greenland's defense capabilities.
The announcement follows Donald Trump's renewed interest in purchasing Greenland for strategic reasons.
Greenland holds strategic value because of its location in the Arctic and its resources.
Denmark's government announced a defense package for Greenland worth at least $1.5 billion after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated that he wanted the US to purchase the Arctic territory.
The Danish defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, told a local media outlet that Denmark would invest "a double-digit billion amount" in kroner to buy two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones, and extra sled patrols in Greenland.
"It is ironic that it coincides with the announcement from the United States," Poulsen said, suggesting that the two events aren't necessarily related and that the investment was previously planned.
On Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." A 2019 report by The Wall Street Journal said that Trump had repeatedly expressed interest in buying Greenland.
Trump's Monday comments followed a separate post suggesting the US could take over the Panama Canal. He made the comments about Greenland in a post announcing the PayPal cofounder Ken Howery as his pick for US ambassador to Denmark.
Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans and has a population of roughly 56,000. The island is home to the US military's northernmost base and has strategic value because of natural resources and proximity to the Arctic, where Russia and China are already increasing activity. Denmark is a US ally and NATO member.
Greenland's prime minister, Mute Egede, responded to Trump's post on Monday by saying, "We are not for sale and will never be for sale." The Danish prime minister's office echoed Egede's statement, saying Greenland wasn't for sale but open for cooperation.
Solvang feels like one big European Christmas market.
Disco Flye Dai/Getty Images
I went to Solvang, a small California town known as the "Danish Capital of America."
With traditional architecture and replicas of monuments in Denmark, I felt transported to Europe.
Solvang is full of holiday spirit and feels like one big European Christmas market.
Known as the "Danish Capital of America," Solvang's cuisine and architecture have turned it into a popular tourist destination.
And while the temperature in December rarely dips below 70 degrees in central California, Solvang has continued to earn spots on lists like "The Most Magical Christmas Towns in the US."
With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to plan a weekend in Solvang — and was transported to Europe.
Solvang is a small California town nicknamed "Little Denmark."
Solvang is located in central California.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, Solvang was christened with the Danish word for "sunny field" (very appropriate for the Golden State) and attracted Danish settlers from the US and abroad, according to Elverhøj, the town's history museum.
One of the first things I spotted while walking around Solvang was one of its famous windmills.
Solvang pays tribute to that history with its own windmills. You'll find four within four blocks of each other, and they make for popular photo opportunities for tourists.
There are gift shops under some of them, while another makes a picturesque backdrop for the town's brewery.
When the sun went down, their lights began to sparkle.
The windmills are lit up at night.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Solvang is all about "hygge," which is not so much a Danish word as it is a national mood. Hygge is about embracing coziness and warmth, like a cup of hot chocolate with your family or cuddling on the couch while watching "The Holiday."
Walking around Solvang at night and seeing its windmills light up the little town, I couldn't help but think of that word and feel its spirit — even in my sundress and flip-flops.
But there's more than windmills. The entire town embraces Danish architecture.
Solvang looks like it's from a different era.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The charming inns and small boutique hotels are named after the likes of Hamlet and King Frederik or Danish towns like Copenhagen.
Everything from the restaurants and shops to the public restrooms and bus stops has Denmark's distinct bindingsvaerk architecture, making you feel like you're in a different era — or at least outside of the US.
You likely won't see a chain restaurant, though I did spot a Subway and Domino's with very subtle signage.
My parents, who came along on my trip after Thanksgiving, said the town reminded them of Disneyland.
I also saw replicas of popular landmarks in Denmark sprinkled across Solvang.
The Little Mermaid statue in Solvang is a replica of the one in Copenhagen.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
We made it our mission to find all the imitations of famous Danish landmarks recreated in Solvang. This included the Little Mermaid statue, which pays tribute to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name, as well as the Rundetaarn, a re-creation of the 17th-century tower that still stands in Copenhagen.
A horse-drawn trolley, done in the style of a 1915 Danish streetcar, also gave tours of the town. And a number of buildings featured wooden storks — a symbol of happiness — on their rooftops, just like in Denmark.
One of the best parts about Solvang was the chance to sample traditional Danish cuisine.
Our dinner at Bit O' Denmark.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I have yet to visit Denmark, so I loved spending the weekend trying the Danish food in Solvang.
After reading several travel blogs, I decided to have lunch at Solvang Restaurant, where my family tried the ham and Tilsit cheese sandwich, Danish-style meatballs, and a sausage platter.
For dinner, we went to Bit O'Denmark, which also came highly reviewed, and ate the Flaeskesteg (roast pork stuffed with prunes) and Frikadeller (pan-fried Danish pork meatballs) — two words I'd never heard of before this trip — along with the Wienerschnitzel.
Our plates often came packed with red cabbage and potatoes and were always loaded with gravy. The food at Bit O'Denmark was especially delicious, with each dish packed with tons of flavor. The mashed potatoes were stellar, and the gravy was so good I want it at every Thanksgiving dinner.
The pastries were the best things I tasted in Solvang.
Inside Olsen's Danish Village Bakery.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Five authentic Danish bakeries are within five blocks of each other, making it extremely easy (and tempting) to indulge in the many incredible pastries on offer.
My family and I tried Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, one of the most famous bakeries in town, and were wowed by every pastry we ordered.
My pastries from Olsen's Bakery.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The Kringle Slice was so perfectly flaky that it instantly melted on my tongue. The Apple Danish was lush and fresh, while the Princess Mocha had a crunchy and sweet stroopwafel base with a deliciously light mocha cream stuffed inside.
Other Danish specialties in Solvang include aebleskiver, ring cake, butter cookies, and loaves of cardamom bread.
Aebleskivers from Solvang Restaurant.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Aebleskivers are small, fluffy Danish desserts often topped with raspberry jam and powdered sugar. They're a lot like doughnut holes but better.
Solvang Restaurant is well-known for its version of aebleskivers, and there's almost always a line of people waiting to grab some from its to-go window. Believe me, the wait is worth it.
There's even a bakery with gingerbread houses so famous the Kardashians have been repeat customers.
Solvang Bakery is famous for its gingerbread houses.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
According to the bakery's website, members of the Kardashian clan are regulars, and Kylie, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, and Kris have all posted their gingerbread houses on social media.
Solvang Bakery sells customized gingerbread houses, along with those you can decorate yourself.
You can also buy individual gingerbread men (I tried one, and it was delicious), traditional Danishes in a variety of flavors, and ring cake.
What surprised me most about Solvang were all the shops. The entire town feels like one big European Christmas market.
One of the many adorable shops in Solvang.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The only thing there might be more of in Solvang than pastries are the hundreds of stockings, ornaments, and Nutcrackers you can find for sale throughout the year.
It seemed like every other window I walked by had a display of smiling Santas, delicately hand-carved Nativity scenes, and plenty of Christmas trees.
And, without fail, every shop blasted either the "Frozen" soundtrack or Christmas carols.
But the crown jewel is Jule Hus, where you can buy Christmas decorations any day of the year.
Jule Hus has more than a dozen Christmas trees.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Walking into Jule Hus — which has been open for more than 50 years and celebrates Christmas every day — felt magical with over a dozen Christmas trees, plus sparkling lights and tinsel galore. The store was full of people happily debating which ornaments to buy for themselves or their loved ones.
"We're always in the spirit here," I heard one of the store's employees tell a customer.
Solvang loves Christmas so much that it hosts a month of Danish-themed holiday events.
Julefest is a monthlong celebration of Christmas in Solvang.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Santa's Village is held in the town's main park every Saturday in December, and there are holiday food tours every weekend.
When I walked around Solvang, there were already Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the town, and every night, the town sparkled with fairy lights strung through the trees and across storefronts.
Throughout December, the town hides an adorable little nisse (the Danish word for gnome) and encourages tourists and locals to try to find him.
Trying to find this little gnome is part of the Julefest experience.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The "Nisse Adventure" is part of Julefest and is another feature of Solvang that gives the town some of that European Christmas magic (and lets you win special prizes).
I couldn't help but yelp with excitement when I spotted the nisse relaxing on this tree in the backyard of the Elverhøj museum.
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bit of holiday magic all year because Solvang fully embraces its fairy-tale spirit.
The entrance to Hans Christian Andersen Park.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I loved how much Solvang is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen. Just look at this entrance to the park bearing his name.
There are also references to his fairy tales throughout town, from the Little Mermaid statue to beautiful murals of "The Princess and the Pea" and "Thumbelina" on the walls of Solvang Restaurant.
After a long day of sightseeing, it was time to relax at my hotel — which was just as charming as the town.
The entrance of Mirabelle Inn.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I spent a night at Mirabelle Inn, which was mentioned in numerous travel blogs I read about Solvang.
The boutique hotel — which has only 12 guest rooms — felt like an intimate bed and breakfast.
Filled with beautiful wallpaper and unique touches, my room was delightfully charming.
My room at Mirabelle Inn.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
According to the hotel's website, each room is decorated with a distinctive decor and ambiance.
Mine had lovely blue-and-white printed wallpaper that made the room feel light despite being on the first floor, as well as an antique dresser and mirror.
Soon, it was time to say goodbye to "Little Denmark," but not before having a very big Danish pancake.
Paula's Pancake House lived up to the hype.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Paula's Pancake House seemed to be the most popular restaurant in Solvang, as there was always a huge crowd waiting to try the restaurant's famous Danish pancakes.
As an enormous pancake was set before me in the old-school diner-style restaurant, I could see it wasn't all hype.
My pancakes — topped with fresh strawberries and even fresher whipped cream — were thin and crispy, yet still somehow fluffy and flaky. Each bite immediately transported me back to a breakfast I'd had over 10 years ago in Amsterdam.
After a weekend full of delicious food, good shopping, Christmas spirit, and plenty of photo opportunities, my magical time at Solvang came to an end.
Solvang is a lovely town that offers a charming taste of Europe.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
So much about Solvang reminded me of trips to Europe, and I have no doubt it's one of the most Christmas-loving places you'll find in the US.
The affordable shops and free holiday activities are perfect for families, while the delicious food and 15 different wine-tasting rooms could definitely keep you occupied on a weekend away with friends.
Height varies widely around the world, but some countries tend to have taller citizens.
Using medical data, Business Insider found the mean heights for the 25 tallest countries.
Many European countries made the list, including Germany, Poland, and Croatia
Sultan Kösen, who hails from Turkey, is nearly 8 feet 3 inches tall and may be the tallest person on the planet.
Despite his impressive stature, his country isn't among those with the tallest people, according to the medical database from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration.
From 1985 to 2019, the project collected height, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other health metrics from over 2,500 population surveys across 193 countries.
The NCD lists the mean heights for 19-year-old men and women in each country. Averaging these two figures gives a rough idea of how tall the typical person is in the country.
Notably, the US isn't on the list. It ranked 58th for women, at 5 feet 4.29 inches (163.3 cm), and 47th for men at 5 feet 9.65 inches (176.9 cm).
These are the 25 countries that (literally) came out on top.
25. Greece's mean height is 5 feet 7.93 inches (172.55 cm).
John Aniston, an actor and the late father of Jennifer Aniston, was born on the island of Crete in Greece.
Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
The mean height for men from Greece is 5 feet 10.59 inches (179.3 cm).
The mean height for women from Greece is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).
24. Austria's mean height is 5 feet 7.99 inches (172.7 cm).
Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's about 6 feet 2 inches tall, starred alongside Danny DeVito in the 1988 movie "Twins."
CHRISTIAN CHARISIUS/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Austria is 5 feet 10.28 inches (178.5 cm).
The mean height for women from Austria is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).
22. Belarus' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).
The 6-foot Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka used her height to her advantage on the court.
THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images
The mean height for men from Belarus is 5 feet 10.35 inches (178.7 cm).
The mean height for women from Belarus is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).
22. Cook Islands' mean height is 5 feet 8.03 inches (172.8 cm).
The Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific, aren't far from French Polynesia.
iStock via Getty Images Plus
The mean height for men from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 10.19 inches (178.3 cm).
The mean height for women from the Cook Islands is 5 feet 5.87 inches (167.3 cm).
21. Bermuda's mean height is 5 feet 8.07 inches (172.9 cm).
Bermuda-born actor and dancer Daren Herbert has appeared in many TV shows and movies.
Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images
The mean height for men from Bermuda is 5 feet 10.75 inches (179.7 cm).
The mean height for women from Bermuda is 5 feet 5.39 inches (166.1 cm).
19. Poland's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).
In the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, singer Blanka, center, represented Poland.
Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Poland is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).
The mean height for women from Poland is 5 feet 5.28 inches (165.8 cm).
19. Germany's mean height is 5 feet 8.21 inches (173.25 cm).
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel is a similar height to many other women in her country.
Omer Messinger-Pool/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Germany is 5 feet 10.98 inches (180.3 cm).
The mean height for women from Germany is 5 feet 5.43 inches (166.2 cm).
18. Norway's mean height is 5 feet 8.29 inches (173.45 cm).
Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen adds a bit to his height when he styles his hair a certain way.
Jon Gambrell/AP Images
The mean height for men from Norway is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).
The mean height for women from Norway is 5 feet 5.51 inches (166.4 cm).
16. Finland's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).
A man holds a Finnish flag.
Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Reuters
The mean height for men from Finland is 5 feet 11.1 inches (180.6 cm).
The mean height for women from Finland is 5 feet 5.55 inches (166.5 cm).
16. Dominica's mean height is 5 feet 8.33 inches (173.55 cm).
"Death in Paradise" star Danny John-Jules, pictured with Petula Langlais, was born in London and both his parents are from Dominica.
Dave Benett/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Dominica is 5 feet 10.94 inches (180.2 cm).
The mean height for women from Dominica is 5 feet 5.71 inches (166.9 cm).
15. Sweden's mean height is 5 feet 8.35 inches (173.6 cm).
Swede Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former soccer player, is 6 feet 5 inches tall. Shaun Clark/Getty Images
Shaun Clark/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Sweden is 5 feet 11.06 inches (180.5 cm).
The mean height for women from Sweden is 5 feet 5.63 inches (166.7 cm).
13. Ukraine's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).
"Dancing with the Stars" alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy, pictured with Peta Murgatroyd, moved to the US from Ukraine as a teen.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Ukraine is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).
The mean height for women from Ukraine is 5 feet 5.59 inches (166.6 cm).
13. Croatia's mean height is 5 feet 8.43 inches (173.8 cm).
Croatian former model Slavica Ecclestone, pictured with her ex-husband, Bernie Ecclestone, is toweringly tall.
Crispin Thruston/Action Images via Reuters
The mean height for men from Croatia is 5 feet 11.18 inches (180.8 cm).
The mean height for women from Croatia is 5 feet 5.67 inches (166.8 cm).
12. Slovakia's mean height is 5 feet 8.52 inches (174.05 cm).
Petra Vlhová, Slovakia's first alpine skier to win an Olympic medal, is nearly 6 feet tall.
AP Photo/Sergio Bisi
The mean height for men from Slovakia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).
The mean height for women from Slovakia is 5 feet 5.79 inches (167.1 cm).
11. Slovenia's mean height is 5 feet 8.54 inches (174.1 cm).
The mean height for men from Slovenia is 5 feet 11.26 inches (181 cm).
The mean height for women from Slovenia is 5 feet 5.83 inches (167.2 cm).
10. Lithuania's mean height is 5 feet 8.56 inches (174.15 cm).
Rūta Meilutytė has broken several swimming records and won an Olympic gold medal for Lithuania.
REUTERS/Issei Kato
The mean height for men from Lithuania is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).
The mean height for women from Lithuania is 5 feet 5.98 inches (167.6 cm).
9. Serbia's mean height is 5 feet 8.7 inches (174.5 cm).
Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vučić, is well over 6 feet tall.
REUTERS/Marko Djurica
The mean height for men from Serbia is 5 feet 11.14 inches (180.7 cm).
The mean height for women from Serbia is 5 feet 6.26 inches (168.3 cm).
8. Czech Republic's mean height is 5 feet 8.74 inches (174.6 cm).
Born in Prague in what is now the Czech Republic, the late Madeleine Albright was the first woman to serve as the US Secretary of State.
E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The mean height for men from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).
The mean height for women from the Czech Republic is 5 feet 6.14 inches (168 cm).
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).
Athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
The mean height for men from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 11.85 inches (182.5 cm).
The mean height for women from Bosnia & Herzegovina is 5 feet 5.94 inches (167.5 cm).
6. Latvia's mean height is 5 feet 8.9 inches (175 cm).
Latvian athletes make their entrance at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP
The mean height for men from Latvia is 5 feet 11.34 inches (181.2 cm).
The mean height for women from Latvia is 5 feet 6.46 inches (168.8 cm).
5. Iceland's mean height is 5 feet 9.09 inches (175.5 cm).
A few inches shy of 7 feet, "Game of Thrones" actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, pictured with professional wrestler Natalie Eva Marie, was born in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Brian Ach/Getty Images for REIGN Total Body Fuel
The mean height for men from Iceland is 5 feet 11.69 inches (182.1 cm).
The mean height for women from Iceland is 5 feet 6.5 inches (168.9 cm).
4. Denmark's mean height is 5 feet 9.17 inches (175.7 cm).
Trained as a gymnast, Mads Mikkelsen began his acting career in his native Denmark.
Joel C. Ryan/AP
The mean height for men from Denmark is 5 feet 11.61 inches (181.9 cm).
The mean height for women from Denmark is 5 feet 6.73 inches (169.5 cm).
3. Estonia's mean height is 5 feet 9.19 inches (175.75 cm).
Miss Estonia Jana Tafenau performs at the 2002 Miss Universe pageant.
Jose Jimenez/Primera Hora/Getty Images
The mean height for men from Estonia is 5 feet 11.97 inches (182.8 cm).
The mean height for women from Estonia is 5 feet 6.42 inches (168.7 cm).
2. Montenegro's mean height is 5 feet 9.55 inches (176.65 cm).
Montenegro`s soccer team competes during the Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match.
REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic
The mean height for men from Montenegro is 6 feet 0.17 inches (183.3 cm).
The mean height for women from Montenegro is 5 feet 6.93 inches (170 cm).
1. The Netherlands's mean height is 5 feet 9.72 inches (177.1 cm).
The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are typical heights for their country.
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
The mean height for men from the Netherlands is 6 feet 0.36 inches (183.8 cm).
The mean height for women from the Netherlands is 5 feet 7.09 inches (170.4 cm).
A note on mean versus average heights: Using mean heights instead of averages gives a sense of which countries have the most people who are tall. For example, many Icelandic men are 5 feet 11 inches.
The list would look different ranked by average heights. The Federal Statistical Office of Germany calculates heights by average, for example, and the results would bump the country up several spots in the rankings.
This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated on December 18, 2024.
Ukraine's European allies are reported to be financing the production of weapons using the "Danish Model."
Muhammed Enes Yildirim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Western allies are reported to be adopting the "Danish model" to fund Ukraine's arms industry.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Lithuania have provided money in this way, The Wall Street Journal said.
Those in favor say it will help make Ukraine self-sufficient in the long term.
Ukraine's European allies, hampered by low military production capacity, have been struggling to produce the weapons needed for Kyiv to fight against Russia.
An increasing number are now financing Ukrainian government contracts with Ukrainian weapons manufacturers to make up the shortfall, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The move has been termed the "Danish Model" after Denmark began giving Ukraine aid to boost its defense manufacturing capacity earlier this year.
Those in favor of the model say Ukraine is able to create weapons better suited to its needs at a lower cost than Western countries, the Journal reported.
Ukraine already has a strong weapons manufacturing industry. An Institute for the Study of War report said Ukraine's defense industry employed 300,000 workers within about 500 different companies in 2023.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that the country's defense companies could now produce 4 million drones annually.
By contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that Moscow intended to ramp up drone production tenfold to about 1.4 million a year.
"Ukraine was the heart of the Soviet defense industrial base, so they have a lot of know-how when it comes to manufacturing complex systems," Eric Ciaramella, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment's Russia and Eurasia program, told the Journal.
Supporting Ukraine's defense industry lets the West help ensure Ukraine is self-sufficient, he added.
Last week, Denmark made a new donation of $138 million for the development of Ukraine's arms industry, Reuters reported.
Sweden, Lithuania, and Norway have also recently provided money in this way, and other nations could soon follow, the Journal reported.
"Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year," he told Reuters in May.
As Business Insider's Sinéad Baker reported earlier this week, the West has focused on the quality of military equipment over stockpiles, prioritizing high-tech and specialized gear over volume.
But the Ukraine war has shown that both are needed. That has prompted a surge in weaponry manufacturing that some experts fear will still fall short.
Russia has also sourced weapons, troops, and ammunition from allies, with North Korea having provided about 8 million artillery shells and about 10,000 soldiers.
The US has meanwhile accused China of providing dual-use goods for Russia's military industry to overcome sanctions. Reuters reported in September that Russia also had a drone factory in China for the war.
Russia's advantages in manpower and equipment have enabled it to make slow but important gains in east Ukraine in recent weeks.
