Danish troops arrive in Greenland for defence exercises

Danish military units have arrived in Greenland to take part in a series of defence exercises, Danish officials confirmed on January 20.

On the evening of January 19, an aircraft carrying 58 service members landed in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. The troops joined 60 Danish military personnel who had been deployed to the island earlier as part of the same operation, Caliber.Az reports per Danish media. 

According to Danish Army Chief of Staff Peter Boesen, the exercises are focused on strengthening Greenland’s defence capabilities. He said the training will include practicing tactics for protecting the territory and responding to potential clashes.

“We can defend ourselves,” Boesen said.

This deployment is part of an exercise framework called Operation Arctic Endurance, led by Denmark, with troops from otehr European countries, such as Germany, France, Sweden and others. The main goal was to demonstrate European and NATO support for Greenland’s security amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, particularly after US President Trump's ambitions to "purchase" the island.

By Sabina Mammadli