Allied drills put muscle behind sovereignty in the High North while Copenhagen balances security with alliance politics

Denmark is running the Arctic Light 2025 exercise in Greenland with more than 550 troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway, plus observers from the United States, Britain, Canada, Sweden, and Germany. Danish special forces practiced ship boardings from helicopters and speedboats in near-freezing conditions as F-16s and live-fire drills underscored the point: Greenland’s security and the North Atlantic sea lanes are defended by ready forces, not press releases. The stated goal is sharper operational readiness for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and NATO in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.

Russia looms, deterrence not dialogue

Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, who leads Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, was blunt: Russia has spent two decades building up in the Arctic and remains a regional superpower there. As the Ukraine war evolves, expect Moscow to reallocate resources north. That is why these drills matter. In the Arctic, credibility comes from presence, not promises. A visible, interoperable force posture signals that any attempt to probe allied seams around Greenland will meet coordinated resistance.

With Washington, friction at the top, cooperation on the deckplates

Operationally, the U.S.-Danish military relationship is strong. Denmark has trained and fought with American forces from Afghanistan to Iraq, and Danish F-16s are heading to the U.S.-run Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland during the exercise. Politically, the waters are choppier. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland and has not ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich island. Copenhagen and Nuuk have answered clearly: Greenland is not for sale. The strategic task now is to keep daily cooperation seamless while managing disagreements at the political level.

Real money for real capabilities

Copenhagen is backing words with resources. In January, the government agreed to spend roughly 14.6 billion kroner, about 2.3 billion dollars, with Greenland and the Faeroe Islands to boost surveillance and sovereignty. The package funds three new Arctic naval vessels, two long-range surveillance drones, and satellite capacity. That is targeted, value-for-money investment in the state’s core function: national defense. It also answers a long-standing U.S. demand for greater European burden sharing in the North Atlantic.

A sober Arctic strategy

Arctic Light 2025 runs from September 9 to Friday and is a timely reminder that unity and credibility deter adventurism. Denmark must continue threading the needle: uphold Greenlandic sovereignty, keep NATO cohesive, and maintain close military ties with Washington. That requires transparency as well as resolve, particularly after Denmark’s foreign minister summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen last month over a report alleging covert influence operations in Greenland by people with connections to Trump. Keep politics out of the cockpit, build hard power with allies, and ensure the Kremlin gets the message.