Denmark leads large military exercise in Greenland – without US
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A Danish F-16 fighter jet flying over the frigate Niels Juel, as Danish and French armed forces performed military drills off the coast of Nuuk, Greenland, on Sept 15.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Denmark excluded the US military from Arctic Light 2025, Greenland's largest military exercise, despite previous US participation and growing Arctic defence co-operation.
- Analyst Hans Peter Michaelsen said the exercise signals Denmark's stewardship of Greenland with NATO allies, amidst cooled relations with the US.
- Arctic Light 2025 involves 550 soldiers from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway, preparing for increased Russian and Chinese Arctic activity.
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NUUK – Denmark did not invite the US military to take part in Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in Greenland’s modern history, as Nato allies step up defence cooperation in the Arctic amid US interest in the island.
Denmark’s Arctic commander, Major-General Soren Andersen, confirmed that while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been invited, no US military units were asked to participate.
“We work together with colleagues on the US Pituffik Space Base, but they were not invited with units for this exercise,” Maj-Gen Andersen told Reuters.
The US has previously participated in Denmark-led military exercises in Greenland. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Copenhagen said that “while we are not participating in this particular exercise, we continue our robust military cooperation with the kingdom of Denmark and other Arctic allies”.
Independent military analyst Hans Peter Michaelsen told Reuters the exercise has “a strong political signalling” to demonstrate Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland with Nato allies.
“The exercise is basically designed to show the Americans that Denmark looks after Greenland and does so with the help of other major Nato countries,” Mr Michaelsen said.
Maj-Gen Andersen dismissed suggestions that the drill was intended to send a message to Washington.
Denmark has ramped up defence investment and military activity in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory, since US President Donald Trump’s comments about acquiring the strategically located territory
Ties between Copenhagen and Washington have worsened this year due to Mr Trump’s refusal to rule out taking Greenland by force. Denmark in August summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen over reports alleging covert influence operations
Arctic Light 2025, running from Sept 9 to 19, involves more than 550 soldiers, including special forces, from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway.
Denmark is deploying a frigate, helicopters and F-16 fighter jets, while France has contributed a naval vessel, an air refuelling tanker aircraft and a drone unit.
The exercise prepares for potential scenarios involving increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, Maj-Gen Andersen said.
The US embassy spokesperson said that Nato allies’ efforts to ensure preparedness to defend in the Arctic were welcome.
The US, which maintained 17 bases in Greenland during the Cold War, currently has a permanent presence only at the Pituffik Space Base in north-western Greenland. REUTERS
