Denmark’s Arctic commander has formally invited the United States to participate in forthcoming military exercises around Greenland, underscoring how the High North has become a new focus of NATO activity. The invitation, extended by Rear Admiral Søren Andersen aboard a Danish naval vessel in Nuuk, comes as several European allies have already dispatched personnel to prepare for the drills; the United States had not yet deployed troops, officials said.
The move follows heightened scrutiny of Greenland’s strategic value since former President Donald Trump publicly expressed interest in acquiring the island. Washington’s engagement in Arctic security is shaped by Greenland’s geographic proximity to North America, existing NATO infrastructure such as early-warning facilities, and the growing presence of other major powers in polar waters.
Denmark has been trying to strike a careful balance: asserting sovereign responsibility for Greenland’s defence while courting allied support. Copenhagen has been ramping up its Arctic military posture, investing nearly 90 billion Danish kroner (about €12 billion) to strengthen northern capabilities and reassure both the island’s residents and NATO partners.
European allies, including France and Germany, have already sent small contingents—dozens of troops by Danish accounts—to assist exercise preparations. The White House, while downplaying the immediate military deployments, has signalled that allied activity will not alter Washington’s strategic interest in Greenland, a remark that keeps geopolitical sensitivities on the table.
The diplomatic choreography around these drills highlights broader strategic competition in the Arctic. Russia has increased its northern military activity, while China has sought economic influence and scientific access to polar routes and resources, prompting NATO members and partners to re-evaluate logistics, surveillance and interoperability in harsh, remote environments.
For Denmark, inviting the United States and other NATO members serves multiple purposes: it strengthens collective defences, signals alliance solidarity, and shores up Copenhagen’s authority over defence planning in Greenland. For Washington and other allies, participation is a way to maintain operational familiarity in the Arctic and to deter potential adversarial advances without escalating political friction over sovereignty.
As Arctic militarisation gradually intensifies, exercises in Greenland will be watched closely by capitals from Oslo to Beijing. The drills will test not only cold-weather tactics and joint command arrangements but also political coordination among NATO members whose interests in the region sometimes diverge, raising questions about how the alliance will manage competition, protect Arctic infrastructure and reassure local populations.