Denmark sends troops to Greenland amid rising tensions

Denmark has sent its first-ever conscripted soldiers to Greenland, a move aimed at bolstering its Arctic position after the United States claimed the territory, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to buy Greenland, citing national security concerns, and has accused Copenhagen of neglecting Arctic defenses. Denmark and Greenland have strongly rejected the idea.

The soldiers are the first group to be trained under Denmark's expanded conscription program, which aims to train soldiers who can serve in the kingdom's most important and complex territory. "We are not only thinking about ourselves, but also about the people of Greenland," 19-year-old soldier David told Reuters.

Copenhagen has pledged billions of dollars to bolster its Arctic defenses after Denmark's defense minister admitted the region had been underfunded for years. "Of course, we are part of the strategic relationship in Greenland. But our mission here is to continue to train soldiers. We need to gain experience in the Arctic climate and conditions," said the company commander, Captain Laura Yepsen.

The soldiers are taking part in a military exercise called "Arctic Endurance." The exercise trains Danish soldiers to survive and fight in extremely cold weather and is part of the "Arctic Sentry" mission, which NATO launched in 2026 to strengthen its position in the region and ease tensions within the alliance after Trump's statements.

Russia, which has the largest military force in the Arctic, has criticized NATO's activities there, describing them as a direct threat to security and an increase in the risk of conflict. China has also increased its activities in the mineral-rich region, mainly in cooperation with Moscow.

Earlier, it was reported that Trump had put forward the idea of annexing the island, saying that "Greenland is important to the United States, not Denmark." The White House leader said that the territory was necessary to ensure global security, while the Danish prime minister pledged to protect every inch of his autonomy - Greenland.