Strategic tension in the Arctic region is growing: Greenland has become an arena not only for diplomatic disputes, but also for military maneuvers. On Tuesday, another Danish military contingent arrived in the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk. Some of the soldiers, who arrived on an Atlantic Airways plane, headed for the village of Kangerlussuaq. This was reported by the dpa agency.
Arctic Endurance exercises and military mobilization
According to the head of the Danish Arctic Command, Søren Andersen, large-scale military exercises have begun on the island.
- Number of troops: According to unofficial data, at least 100 Danish servicemen are currently stationed in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq each.
- Duration: These maneuvers may last until the end of 2026.
- Allies: Germany, Norway, Sweden and Great Britain have also sent their troops to Greenland. In particular, the Bundeswehr intelligence group is assisting Denmark in maritime surveillance.
“If there is an invasion, we will start a war!”
Rasmus Jarlov, the head of the Danish parliament’s defense committee, gave an interview to CNN. He strongly criticized the possibility of the US taking over the island by force:
“We will definitely defend Greenland. If American troops invade, we will fight each other with weapons,” Jarlov said.
In his opinion, annexation is economically illogical for the US and will only lead to catastrophic costs and political crisis.
US moves to Pitufik base
Meanwhile, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has sent its aircraft to the Pitufik military base in Greenland. Washington calls the move a "pre-planned event" and claims it was coordinated with the Danish authorities.
Trump's tariffs and NATO's position
Donald Trump is justifying his desire to buy Greenland by citing US security concerns and threats from Russia and China. His 10 percent trade tariffs, which will come into effect on February 1, are forcing European countries to take retaliatory measures.
- Europe's response: The defense ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels to propose the creation of a special Arctic mission.
- Summit: EU leaders will hold an emergency summit on Greenland on January 22.
European officials, recalling that Greenland is under NATO's collective defense system, insist that US military involvement is already guaranteed by a 1951 agreement.
Do you think this tension over Greenland could escalate into a real armed conflict, or is it just political pressure?
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