The Danish Armed Forces increase their presence in Greenland

The security policy tensions in the Arctic are now prompting the Danish Armed Forces to continue and expand their exercise activities in and around Greenland. This is taking place in close cooperation with NATO allies and with the backing of both Naalakkersuisut and the Ministry of Defence. From today, there will be an increased military presence in the region.

The purpose is to strengthen the Alliance’s presence in the Arctic and improve the ability to operate under the specific Arctic conditions. The exercises are intended to contribute to both European and transatlantic security.

-“Security in the Arctic is of decisive importance for the Kingdom and our Arctic allies, and it is therefore important that, in close cooperation with our allies, we further strengthen our ability to operate in the region. This is something we did in 2025, and as a natural continuation of these efforts we are continuing and expanding the cooperation in 2026,” says Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.

The increased military presence will, among other things, include aircraft, ships and soldiers – including contributions from NATO partners such as Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. Over the course of 2026, the exercise activities may include guarding critical societal infrastructure, support to the Greenlandic authorities, reception of allied forces, deployment of fighter aircraft, as well as maritime tasks.

Naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs and Research, Vivian Motzfeldt, underlines the importance of the cooperation:

-“As part of the NATO alliance, it is a core priority for Naalakkersuisut that defence and security in and around Greenland are strengthened, and that this takes place in close cooperation with our NATO allies. The Ministry of Defence and Naalakkersuisut work closely together to initiate initiatives and cooperation among both our Arctic and European allies. Once the exercises get under way, the Greenlandic population will be kept continuously informed about the activities via the platforms of the Arctic Command.”

The Danish Armed Forces state that the Arctic Command will continuously keep citizens and local authorities informed about the activities and remain in close dialogue with relevant stakeholders.