Greenland deepens Canada ties as Arctic security concerns mount

Greenlandic authorities have stepped up cooperation with Canada following repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to seize the island, as concerns grow over Arctic security and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Central to the discussions is Canada’s Rangers, a reserve force that maintains a year-round presence in remote Arctic communities. For three years, officials from Greenland and Denmark have consulted Canadian counterparts on creating a similar unit, with talks accelerating amid Trump’s rhetoric and fears of increased Russian activity.

“The rhetoric coming out of the White House has sped up efforts to rebuff the idea that Arctic communities need the U.S. to come in ‌and save them,” said Whitney Lackenbauer, an honorary lieutenant-colonel Canadian Ranger involved in the talks. “The Nordic countries and Canada, we’re increasingly realising we can come together in military and diplomatic ways to send a message that carries moral weight.”

Canada is also reassessing its reliance on the United States for Arctic defence. Prime Minister Mark Carney has strengthened ties with Nordic countries, describing them as trusted partners, as part of a broader effort to build cooperation among “middle powers” in a less predictable global environment.

The White House said Trump’s leadership has prompted allies “to recognise the need to meaningfully contribute to their own defence,” adding that the Arctic is critical to US national security.

Strategic competition in the Arctic is intensifying as climate change opens the region. Russia maintains the largest military presence there, while China has expanded its footprint, largely in partnership with Moscow. Carney has identified Russia as the primary threat and said Canada will no longer rely on others to defend its territory.

In March, Canada and the five Nordic countries agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and defence production. A plan for Greenland to adapt the Canadian Rangers model is expected by the end of the year.

“We have to build something new, and it has to be a world order that is built on the values that we represent,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

Despite the shift, analysts stress that cooperation with the United States remains essential. “If we are talking about war-fighting capability, that means working with the U.S. military,” said Arctic expert Rob Huebert.

By Tamilla Hasanova