According to the Danish Defence Ministry, the soldiers arrived in Kangerlussuaq, north of the capital Nuuk, on Monday evening. The reinforcement has been described as a “substantial contribution,” underscoring Copenhagen’s intent to assert control over defence and security in the strategically sensitive Arctic territory. Danish Army Chief Peter Boysen is accompanying the deployment, highlighting the importance Denmark attaches to the move. Prior to the latest reinforcement, around 200 Danish soldiers were already expected to be stationed in Greenland.
The troop deployment comes just days after US President Donald Trump again claimed that Greenland is essential for US security interests, reviving anxieties in Copenhagen and Nuuk about Washington’s long-standing interest in the island. While Trump insisted that relations between the US and Denmark remain “good,” his remarks have reignited concerns over sovereignty and external pressure.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen responsible for its defence and foreign policy. Greenlandic leaders have been firm in rejecting any suggestion that the island could be coerced or its status questioned by outside powers.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the island would not accept pressure from abroad, calling repeated statements challenging Greenland’s status disrespectful and unacceptable. Echoing this sentiment, Greenland’s Minister of Industry, Raw Materials, Energy, Justice and Equality, Naaja Nathanielsen, wrote inThe New York Timesthat Greenland’s choice to remain within the Kingdom of Denmark must be respected. She stressed that Greenland wants to prioritise peaceful development rather than being drawn into geopolitical confrontation.
The situation has also drawn wider European attention. Reports last week indicated that military personnel from several European countries have arrived in Greenland, reflecting growing concern among US allies about security dynamics and sovereignty in the Arctic as climate change opens up new shipping routes and access to natural resources.
Economic pressure has added another layer to the standoff. On January 17, Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from several European countries, with the possibility of raising it to 25%, citing tensions linked to Greenland.
Denmark’s latest troop deployment is therefore being viewed as both a practical step to reinforce Arctic defence and a clear political signal. At a time of heightened rhetoric from Washington, Copenhagen appears determined to underline that Greenland’s security — and its future — will be decided within the Kingdom of Denmark, not dictated from abroad.
