Denmark and Greenland are urging NATO to step up its engagement in the Arctic as tensions grow within the alliance over the region’s security, particularly following renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland’s future.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Monday that he and Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt plan to raise the issue directly with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during talks at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The discussions come at a moment of heightened strain between some European allies and Washington, driven in part by Trump’s repeated assertions that the United States should take control of Greenland for security reasons.
Truslerne mod Danmark, Grønland og vores NATO-allierede fra præsident Trump er selvfølgelig helt uacceptable.
— Troels Lund Poulsen (@troelslundp) January 17, 2026
Jeg er taknemmelig for de mange støtteerklæringer til Rigsfællesskabet,
der tikker ind i disse timer.
International lov og staters territoriale suverænitet er…
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and European NATO members have strongly rejected any suggestion that the island could be annexed by the United States. Against that backdrop, Lund Poulsen said Denmark and Greenland have received “broad support” from allies for the view that “NATO should do more in the Arctic,” following decisions by Copenhagen and partner nations to increase their military presence in the region.
Motzfeldt said Greenland’s strategic position has placed it at the center of global attention. “Greenland finds itself in an unusual situation that is attracting the attention of the entire world,” she said. “The situation demands that we strengthen cooperation on defence and security issues in the Arctic within NATO.”
As diplomatic efforts continue, Denmark is also moving ahead with concrete military steps. Danish broadcaster TV2 reported Monday, citing Defence Ministry information, that Denmark will deploy additional combat troops to Greenland. While officials did not disclose an exact number, the deployment was described as a “considerable contribution.”
According to the report, the new troops are expected to arrive at Kangerlussuaq, about 300 kilometers north of Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. Army chief Major General Peter Boysen is set to accompany the deployment.
The reinforcements build on recent movements already underway. The Danish Arctic Command said that around 100 Danish troops were sent to Nuuk last week, with a similar number deployed to Kangerlussuaq. Those forces are tasked with initiating the Danish-led Arctic Endurance exercise, a multinational operation involving other NATO allies.
Together, the diplomatic push in Brussels and the expanded military presence on the ground reflect Denmark and Greenland’s effort to frame Arctic security as a collective NATO responsibility, even as debates intensify over sovereignty, deterrence, and the alliance’s role in the High North.
