US Sends Military Aircraft to Greenland Amid Rising Arctic Tensions

NORAD deployment to Pituffik Space Base comes as Denmark strengthens troop presence and Arctic geopolitics intensify

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Rajan Mhatre

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Summary: NORAD aircraft deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik base as Denmark boosts troops amid diplomatic strain.

The United States is sending military aircraft to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base as part of a coordinated deployment, officials said on Tuesday — a move that comes amid heightened geopolitical tension over the future of the sparsely populated Arctic island.

The aircraft, sent by the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) — a joint US-Canada military organisation — will support a series of “long-planned activities,” officials said, including air defence missions and routine surveillance work in the Arctic region. The planned arrival was described as coordinated with both Denmark and Greenland, and all operations are proceeding with diplomatic clearances.

NORAD’s announcement arrives against the backdrop of an increasingly fraught diplomatic moment involving US interest in Greenland’s strategic position, and a separate effort by Denmark to strengthen its own military presence on the island. Copenhagen has been deploying additional combat troops to Greenland, including reinforcements to Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, as part of broader Arctic security plans.

The US military presence at Pituffik isn’t new — it dates back to the Greenland Defence Agreement of 1951, under which Washington has operated in the territory with Danish consent — but the latest deployment comes at a time when tensions over Arctic strategy and sovereignty have intensified.

That pressure has been stoked in part by controversial remarks from US President Donald Trump, who in recent weeks reiterated his belief that the United States should exert greater influence over Greenland — even saying he wouldn’t rule out stronger measures to secure a deal with Copenhagen.

In response, Denmark has emphasised both its own sovereignty over the island and the importance of Arctic defence cooperation with NATO allies rather than unilateral action. Alongside the Danish troop deployments, smaller contingents from countries including Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, and the Netherlands have taken part in a Danish-led exercise called Operation Arctic Endurance — a show of collective readiness and solidarity in the region.

Denmark's decision to strengthen its military presence in Greenland has been portrayed by Copenhagen as part of broader Arctic defensive preparations, rather than a direct response to US criticism. Nonetheless, the overlap between diplomatic tensions and military activities demonstrates how important the Arctic has become in global military and political calculations.

For the time being, the aircraft deployment to Pituffik is expected to coincide with existing Danish and allied activities in the region, with officials stressing the importance of Arctic security cooperation while also insisting that Greenland's status as a self-governing territory under Danish sovereignty remains unchanged.