Denmark has deployed additional troops to Greenland amid escalating tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has intensified his push to bring the autonomous Danish territory under American control.
In January 2026, over 100 Danish combat soldiers arrived in Greenland, including reinforcements for multinational exercises like Operation Arctic Endurance, as reported by Danish media and defense officials.
Denmark describes the move as a routine boost to Arctic defense and NATO cooperation, not directly linked to Trump’s demands, though it coincides with his repeated claims that Greenland is vital for US national security against potential threats from Russia or China.
Trump has refused to rule out military force or economic pressure, including threats of tariffs on Denmark and other European allies, to acquire the mineral-rich Arctic island.
Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any sale or takeover, emphasizing sovereignty and warning that aggressive US action could undermine NATO. European NATO members, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, and others, have shown solidarity by increasing their military presence in Greenland.
This standoff highlights growing geopolitical stakes in the Arctic region, where strategic location, resources, and defense concerns intersect. Denmark maintains that enhanced allied cooperation, including potential NATO missions, sufficiently secures Greenland without US ownership.
