USA announced deployment of additional military forces to Greenland in a NORAD communique issued on Monday.
USA Sending Military to Greenland
On Monday, January 19, NORAD issued a communique announcing that its aircraft will soon arrive at the American Pituffik base in Greenland. “Along with aircraft operating from bases in the continental United States and Canada, they will support various long-planned NORAD operations, based on the enduring defense cooperation between the USA and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” the command reported.
Denmark Aware of US Actions
The military ensured that the actions are coordinated with Danish authorities. Additionally, they are being carried out based on required diplomatic permits. The Greenlandic government is also being informed. “NORAD routinely conducts continuous, dispersed operations to defend North America through one or all three NORAD regions (Alaska, Canada, and continental United States),” the statement read.
USA in Greenland
The presence of American military forces in Greenland is enabled by a 1951 agreement with Denmark. However, as Maciek Kucharczyk wrote for Gazeta.pl, the USA itself began reducing its presence there decades ago. This did not prevent the White House from accusing Europe of insufficient interest in the island. “We know that adversaries have shown interest in this particular territory and this part of the world, so what we ask of our European friends is to take the security of this island more seriously, because if they don’t, the USA will have to take care of it,” said US Vice President J.D. Vance on January 8.
Arctic Endurance Exercises Underway
Currently, the operation Arctic Endurance is being conducted in Greenland. “As NATO members, we are committed to strengthening the security of the Arctic as a common transatlantic interest. The ‘Arctic Endurance’ exercises, previously coordinated with allies, address this need. They do not pose a threat to anyone,” Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Great Britain wrote in a joint statement. The countries also emphasized their openness to dialogue with respect for the island’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
