Denmark is preparing to deploy as many as 1,000 combat troops to Greenland in 2026, expanding a rotational presence that already sees roughly 100 Danish soldiers in Nuuk and a similar number in Kangerlussuaq. The current deployments include about 150 troops in Kangerlussuaq and an equivalent contingent in Nuuk, among them roughly 30 French alpine troops participating in exercises; the Danish Arctic Joint Command will also send personnel to take part in the drills.
The Danish Defence Ministry framed the move as a response to the spread of geopolitical tensions into the Arctic, saying it and the Greenlandic home rule government have agreed to step up armed forces training and exercises on the island. The troops currently rotating through are drawn from the Danish Army's 1st Brigade and are expected to remain for about a month before being relieved by a fresh contingent from Denmark; the navy and air force may also be deployed as plans are finalised.
Greenland's strategic value gives the manoeuvre particular significance. Sitting astride the air and sea approaches between North America and northern Europe and hosting facilities such as Thule Air Base, Greenland is central to transatlantic surveillance, early-warning systems and control of emerging Arctic sea lanes. As polar ice retreats and interest in resources and new shipping routes grows, states from Moscow to Beijing have stepped up political, commercial and military activity in the region.
The planned augmentation serves multiple purposes: it reassures NATO allies of Denmark's ability to defend its North Atlantic flank, signals deterrence to rival powers increasing their Arctic footprint, and tests Danish operational readiness in extreme conditions. The presence of French mountain troops highlights allied willingness to contribute, while the possible involvement of Denmark's navy and air force would expand training to multi-domain operations in the high north.
Risks accompany the signal. A sustained or visible military build-up in Greenland could feed perceptions of Arctic militarisation, prompting diplomatic friction with Russia and complicating Chinese commercial engagements in polar regions. It will also require careful management of logistics, environmental impact and political sentiment in Greenland, where debates over autonomy, resource development and foreign basing have local resonance.
Expect Denmark to continue calibrating its posture: enough activity to reassure allies and deter challengers, but framed as defensive, routine training with the Greenlandic government’s consent. How Moscow responds, how NATO allies choose to embed themselves in future rotations, and how Greenlanders view a larger foreign military footprint will determine whether the deployment hardens into a permanent posture or remains a seasonal increase in activity.