The Danish armed forces stationed at the Joint Arctic Command in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, are facing a heightened sense of urgency. The current headquarters, though aesthetically pleasing with its blue paint, lacks significant fortification that could deter potential threats from the US or other nations.
Following former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland in January 2025, a substantial £3.5 billion expansion project in the Arctic was unveiled. This initiative includes the establishment of a new command headquarters in Nuuk to oversee and address potential threats in the Arctic region.
In a somewhat peculiar turn of events, amidst Trump’s rhetoric of conflict, Denmark has agreed to purchase an additional 16 F-35 fighter jets from the US, augmenting its total fleet to 43 aircraft.
Despite the bolstering of defenses, President Trump dismissed the Danish efforts, sarcastically referring to the investment as equivalent to just “a single dog sled.” Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen emphasized that the agreement significantly enhances the Danish Armed Forces’ capabilities in the area.
The Arctic region serves as a critical junction linking North America, Russia, and Europe. Denmark collaborated with the governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to devise a comprehensive defense package, which includes the procurement of two new Arctic ships, maritime patrol planes, drones, and early warning radar systems.
Personnel stationed in Nuuk are aware of their legal obligation to engage any invaders promptly, as mandated by a directive dating back to 1952. This directive requires soldiers to take action without delay if Danish territory is encroached upon.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any military attempt to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, would jeopardize NATO’s integrity. Trump’s recent assertions about Russian and Chinese presence in Greenland were challenged by Danish and Norwegian defense authorities, who have not detected any Chinese warships near their waters despite concerns over escalating Russian naval activities in the Arctic Ocean.