U.S. Inspects Greenland Airfield Once Considered for Military Base

American military engineers are surveying Narsarsuaq Airport in southern Greenland to assess its potential for future use.

The Danish media outlet DR reported on the development, publishing footage of the military personnel working at the airfield.

According to journalists, four U.S. service members measured the runway and inspected other facilities that could potentially be used for military purposes.

The U.S. military’s Northern Command confirmed that specialists are conducting “technical surveys.” They are collecting data on the airfield’s dimensions, existing facilities, and runway characteristics for potential use by the United States, Denmark, or other NATO allies.

Military engineers from the Naval Construction Force, known as the Seabees, have arrived in Narsarsuaq. The unit specializes in constructing and preparing military infrastructure, including airfields, ports, and roads.

The U.S. specialists were transported by a Danish military EH-101 helicopter. Danish Arctic Shield exercises are currently underway near the airfield. However, the exercise commander in Narsarsuaq told DR that the U.S. team is not participating in them.

Denmark’s Defence Command described the work by the U.S. military personnel as a technical survey aimed at strengthening security in Greenland together with NATO allies. The Defence Command did not report whether the survey was related to the possibility of establishing a U.S. military base.

The Greenlandic government said it is negotiating with Denmark’s Ministry of Defence to keep Narsarsuaq Airport open for another year. During that time, the two sides plan to assess the military’s long-term needs and determine how the airport could be used.

The inspection is taking place amid earlier tensions between Copenhagen and Washington over Greenland. In December 2025, Militarnyi reported that Denmark’s military intelligence service had, for the first time, identified the United States as a potential security threat to Denmark, amid Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland.

In March 2026, Militarnyi also reported that Denmark had been preparing for a possible U.S. invasion of Greenland. According to the Financial Times, Danish troops had brought explosives to the island so they could disable the runways at airports in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq if such a scenario occurred.

The U.S. military presence in Greenland has a long history. The island is home to Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base. It is part of the U.S. warning system for missile attacks and space surveillance.

Greenland is strategically important due to its location in the Arctic between North America and Europe. The island is also important for Western missile defense, as radar stations located there enable the early detection of threats approaching from the north.