Denmark’s Arctic commander says focus is on Russia, not U.S., amid security concerns
Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command in Greenland is focused on monitoring and countering potential Russian activity in the Arctic, not preparing for threats from the United States, its commander said Friday, as global attention on the region continues to grow.
Major General Soren Andersen said his priority is Russia, dismissing speculation about tensions between NATO allies. Speaking aboard a Danish naval vessel in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, Andersen emphasized that the command’s mission is aligned with NATO’s collective defense goals.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly described Greenland as strategically important to U.S. national security and has declined to rule out the use of force to gain control of the vast, semi-autonomous Arctic territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Andersen, however, rejected the idea of conflict between NATO members, calling such scenarios hypothetical.
“I don’t see a NATO ally attacking another NATO ally,” Andersen said, adding that Denmark’s defense planning is routine and focused on protecting the kingdom alongside NATO partners.
In response to increased U.S. interest in the Arctic, several European nations this week deployed small numbers of military personnel to Greenland ahead of the Arctic Endurance NATO exercise, which is designed to test forces in harsh winter conditions. Denmark has invited the United States to participate in the exercise.
“We met today with many NATO partners, including the U.S., and extended the invitation,” Andersen said, noting that it is still unclear whether U.S. forces will take part. Denmark did not extend a similar invitation to the United States for an exercise held in September.
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Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command oversees defense operations around Greenland and the Faroe Islands, conducting surveillance and search-and-rescue missions using patrol ships, aircraft, helicopters, satellites, and the elite Sirius dog-sled patrol, which operates across remote Arctic terrain.
Andersen said there are currently no Chinese or Russian ships operating near Greenland, though a Russian research vessel was located approximately 310 nautical miles away. He added that NATO allies maintain a clear and shared understanding of regional activity.
“We expect increased Russian activity in the coming years,” Andersen said. “That means we need to train more and increase our presence in the Arctic to protect NATO’s northern border.”
In 2022, Denmark approved a 42 billion Danish crown ($6.54 billion) Arctic defense package to address growing security concerns in the region.
Andersen also highlighted ongoing cooperation with the U.S. military, saying collaboration remains strong. He recently met with the commander of U.S. Northern Command, the head of Alaska Command, and held talks at the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, with additional meetings planned later this month.
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