Amid Trump Threats, Denmark Steps Up Military Deployment in Greenland

Denmark has begun expanded military exercises in and around Greenland, increasing the deployment of aircraft, naval vessels and troops alongside NATO allies, as U.S. President Donald Trump renews threats to take control of the Arctic territory by force or diplomacy.

In a January 14 statement, Denmark’s defence ministry said the Danish Armed Forces were deploying additional units across Greenland and the North Atlantic, leading to a sustained rise in military presence involving Danish forces and allied contingents.

“Security tensions have spread to the Arctic,” the ministry said, adding that the Government of Greenland and Denmark’s Ministry of Defence had agreed to continue intensified defence activity “in close cooperation with NATO allies” to strengthen the alliance’s footprint under Arctic conditions.

Planned exercises in 2026 may include guarding critical infrastructure, assisting Greenlandic authorities including police, receiving allied troops, deploying fighter aircraft, and conducting naval operations. Arctic Command said it would keep Greenland’s population informed and remain in close contact with local authorities.

The latest deployments build on measures taken in summer 2025, when Denmark increased land, air and sea operations around Greenland with support from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway, including exercises focused on protecting critical infrastructure.

Greenland’s foreign affairs minister Vivian Motzfeldt said strengthening security remained a core priority. “As part of the NATO alliance, it is a core priority for Naalakkersuisut that the defense and security in and around Greenland are strengthened,” she said.

Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the effort would expand this year. “Security in the Arctic is of crucial importance to the Kingdom and our Arctic allies,” he said, adding that Denmark and its partners would explore how to implement a larger and more permanent presence in 2026.

Last week, Trump claimed the U.S. would take Greenland “one way or the other,” arguing that Washington must act to prevent Russia or China from expanding their influence in the Arctic.

The move follows a tense meeting in Washington between Greenlandic and Danish officials, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Afterward, Trump repeated his claim that the United States “needs” Greenland for national security and questioned Denmark’s ability to defend it.

“If we don’t go in, Russia is going to go in and China is going to go in,” Trump said. “And there’s not a thing Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland’s defence was “a common concern” for NATO and confirmed that troops from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden were heading to the largely autonomous territory. “There is a fundamental disagreement because the American ambition to take over Greenland is intact,” she said, calling the situation “obviously serious”.

She said NATO agreed that a stronger Arctic presence was essential for European and North American security. “The defence and protection of Greenland is a common concern for the entire NATO alliance,” Frederiksen said, citing Denmark’s investments in Arctic capabilities and ongoing joint exercises.

France said about 15 soldiers from its mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk, with more to follow. Germany confirmed it would deploy a 13-member reconnaissance team. Poulsen said Denmark aimed to establish a more permanent military presence in Greenland, supported by rotating NATO forces.