Greenland has sufficient NATO presence for feterrence, commander says

Greenland already has enough military bases and permanent troops to support NATO operations and deter potential Russian threats, according to the head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command on the territory, as Copenhagen continues a multi-billion-dollar effort to expand Arctic defenses.

Søren Andersen, who leads the Joint Arctic Command in Greenland, said the region’s main security challenge is monitoring Russian and Chinese submarine activity in the GIUK gap — a strategic North Atlantic chokepoint — rather than deploying additional ground forces, Bloomberg reports. 

Andersen added that Greenland does not require large troop deployments, emphasising the role of surveillance systems such as drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and naval vessels.

A large number of personnel is not required to defend Greenland, since drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and ships are used to monitor the situation, and these do not require a large number of personnel to operate. Furthermore, he said, these assets are based in Iceland and the United Kingdom, not on the island itself.

His comments come as Denmark moves ahead with plans to significantly strengthen its military presence in Greenland, including a reported $6.5 billion defence expansion plan aimed at bolstering Arctic security capabilities.

The plan was accelerated after U.S. President Donald Trump announced Washington’s intention to establish greater control over Greenland “to ensure national security.”

However, Andersen said progress on the defence upgrades has been limited so far due to procurement delays affecting drones, patrol aircraft, and other equipment. He noted that key infrastructure projects remain in early stages, with the first coastal radar in Nuuk expected to be installed next month and broader construction plans, including a new port, scheduled to begin in 2026. The full modernisation effort is expected to be completed by 2033.

Earlier reporting by Danmarks Radio suggested that the United States could establish three or four new military bases in Greenland. It also noted that recent talks between U.S., Greenlandic, and Danish representatives failed to resolve ongoing disagreements over the island’s strategic future.

By Sabina Mammadli