Denmark has formally proposed a new NATO-led surveillance mission focused on Greenland’s vast Arctic territory, announced on January 17, 2026. The initiative, presented at a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, aims to strengthen collective monitoring of the Arctic region amid rising strategic competition from Russia and China.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the mission as a “pragmatic step” to enhance situational awareness in Greenland’s airspace, waters, and landmass—covering 2.1 million square kilometers of ice and tundra. The proposal calls for joint NATO patrols using maritime patrol aircraft (P-8 Poseidon), drones, and satellite assets, with Denmark providing primary basing at Thule Air Base (under US control) and Kangerlussuaq Airport.
The move follows repeated US interest in expanding its military footprint in Greenland (including Trump’s 2019 purchase proposal and recent strategic investments), Russia’s growing Arctic presence (new bases and icebreaker fleet), and China’s economic outreach via infrastructure and mining projects. Denmark seeks to balance these pressures by multilateralizing Arctic security under NATO rather than relying solely on bilateral US arrangements.
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