Increased military presence in Greenland. NORAD planes are due to land on the island soon, new Danish soldiers deployed
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) F-35 Lightning II fighter jets identified and intercepted Russian Tu-95 and Su-35 military jets over the Bering Sea off the west coast of Alaska on July 22, 2025. Photo credit: US Dept. of Defense / AP / Profimedia
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced on Monday that it is sending military aircraft to the Pituffik base of the United States Space Forces in northwest Greenland, in the context in which US President Donald Trump has reiterated his interest in acquiring the arctic island, informs AFP and The Hill.
NORAD said in a press release published on X that the aircraft of the US-Canada Joint Military Aerospace Surveillance and Defense Organization that will arrive in Greenland are to “support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the sustainable defense cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which plays a strategic role in detecting aerial intrusions, did not disclose the type of aircraft sent.
This deployment comes at a time when US President Donald Trump is threatening to take control of this vast territory.
Despite opposition from European allies, Trump announced he would impose 10 percent tariffs on goods from eight European countries as part of his efforts to acquire the self-governing Danish territory.
He cited the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize last year as the reason he “no longer feels the obligation to think exclusively about peace.”
The US president told NBC News on Monday that he has “no comment” on the possibility of using force to take possession of Greenland.
Denmark also strengthened its military presence on the Arctic island on Monday, according to local media, as cited by Politico.
A “substantial contribution” of Danish combat soldiers was expected to arrive in Kangerlussuaq, the location of Greenland's main international airport, on Monday evening, according to Danish broadcaster TV2.
The Danish military commander in the Arctic, Major General Søren Andersen, said about 100 Danish soldiers had already arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and a similar number in Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland.
The soldiers will participate in the Arctic Endurance training exercise. Andersen said last week that the troop deployment was a reaction to Russian threats, not Trump.
House Republican Don Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said last week he would consider impeaching Trump if the US decided to invade Greenland.
His fellow Republican, Michael McCaul, said on Sunday that a US-launched military invasion of Greenland would mean “war” with NATO.
