Additional Danish Troops Arrive in Greenland

Denmark has sent additional military units to Greenland, where joint military exercises with several European countries are currently taking place.

Major General Søren Andersen of the Danish Army said this in a comment to Greenland’s national newspaper Sermitsiaq.

According to the Danish Armed Forces, the Arctic Endurance operation will run year-round.

The troops will train to protect critical infrastructure – primarily ports and airports, as well as oil facilities.

“There will be more activities throughout the year, replacing one another. They will not necessarily be permanent, but if we want to defend Greenland and NATO’s northern flank, we need to train,” Major General Andersen said. He added, “At present, there is no military threat to Greenland. I also do not see any NATO country attacking another NATO country.”

According to him, U.S. service members were also invited to participate in the Arctic Endurance operation, as the United States is a NATO member.

On the evening of January 19, Denmark’s armed forces reported the arrival of additional troops in Greenland.

U.S. Interest

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to gain control over Greenland.

He first raised this idea in 2019 during his first term in office, arguing that Greenland is strategically vital to U.S. interests and claiming that Denmark has not done enough to ensure its security.

On January 17, the U.S. President announced that beginning February 1, a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods imported into the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland. The tariff is expected to rise to 25% starting June 1.

He added that “these tariffs will remain in effect until an agreement is reached on the full and absolute purchase of Greenland.”

At the same time, the United States has informally sought, without officially involving Copenhagen, to persuade Danish partners in Greenland to provide information about military facilities, ports, and air bases on the island.