Denmark landed fresh troops in Greenland Monday evening at Kangerlussuaq, the Arctic logistics hub that feeds remote outposts. Royal Danish Army chief
Peter Boysen stepped off a chartered plane with 58 soldiers, their rifles slung and cold-weather gear packed tight. Public broadcaster TV2 captured the scene—boots crunching snow on the runway, Danish flags snapping in the wind under overcast skies. These newcomers join 60 personnel already running Operation Arctic Endurance, Denmark's multinational drill ramped up fast. Germany sent engineers, Sweden brought specialists, France added logistics teams, while Norway, Netherlands, and Finland pitched in smaller squads. Copenhagen calls it routine NATO work protecting cables, radars, and runways from possible sabotage.
Behold the expanded Danish military contingent in Greenland, which has just been upped by... 58 troops. pic.twitter.com/qlmKoAj5Lm
— Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) January 19, 2026
Trump Fixated On Repeating The Narrative
The buildup comes right after President Donald Trump doubled down on seizing Greenland for US security. He threatened 10% tariffs hitting Denmark and six European allies February 1, jumping to 25% by June unless they hand over the mineral-rich territory. Trump argues China and Russia eye Arctic routes and resources, saying Denmark owes America after decades of protection. Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the talk surprising but stressed US forces at Pituffik already bolster defenses through talks. Greenland officials got full briefings on the troop rotations.
Videos spread quick online, showing the orderly welcome—no rush, just steady men hauling crates across tarmac. Kangerlussuaq locals barely blinked; these exercises pump money into hotels and fuel stops. Major General Boysen oversees what Denmark frames as natural Arctic prep, not chest-thumping. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Danish and Greenland leaders Monday, praising Copenhagen's defense spending hike.
NATO Allies Join Arctic Push
Operation Arctic Endurance tests real skills—guarding power lines in blizzards, aiding local cops during storms, handling allied arrivals under whiteout conditions. Sweden flies Gripens over Iceland in parallel patrols. France coordinates EU tariff talks if Trump pulls the trigger. Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre weighs NATO surveillance missions proposed by Denmark. The drills run weeks, rotating fresh faces through Nuuk and Station Nord.
Pituffik Space Base—America's northernmost deep-water port—sees NORAD planes roll in too, cleared by Danish diplomats. The US-Canada command calls it long-planned work tracking missiles and satellites. Trump's "time for Denmark to give back" line echoes past spats, but Copenhagen holds firm. PM Mette Frederiksen vows no sale, no matter the trade hit.
Sirius Dog Sled Patrol teams already mush thousands of miles yearly, eyes on foreign ships slipping fjords. These troops back that quiet presence with muscle where sleds can't reach. European unity stiffens—Germany's Friedrich Merz posts support beside Denmark.
Tariff Deadline Looms Large
February 1 marks the first tariff wave, potentially slapping $93 billion in European goods. Markets watch luxury cars, cheese, machinery for pain. Denmark invests in F-35s and frigates northbound. Greenland's Vivan Motzfeldt welcomes NATO footprint boosting local safety without ownership fights.
No Russian subs or Chinese miners spotted yet, but warming ice opens paths fast. Trump's Davos trip Wednesday spotlights the crunch. Denmark bets rotating forces hold ground better than outright sale.
