Denmark Leads Arctic Exercise In Greenland Amid Rising Russian Concerns

Denmark is spearheading the Arctic Light 2025 military exercise in and around Greenland, involving over 550 personnel from NATO allies, including France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. The multinational drill, which began on September 9 and is scheduled to conclude on September 19, focuses on enhancing operational readiness and joint response capabilities against destabilising threats in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.

As a semiautonomous Danish territory, Greenland's strategic position has drawn increased attention amid geopolitical shifts, with the exercise serving as a demonstration of Denmark's commitment to sovereignty and NATO solidarity.

The manoeuvres include sea, land, and air operations, with Danish forces deploying the frigate HDMS Niels Juel, two helicopters, two F-16 fighter jets, and special forces units. On Monday, troops practised ship-boarding techniques in near-freezing conditions, descending from helicopters via ropes and ascending from speedboats, observed by military representatives from the United States, Britain, Canada, Sweden, and Germany. Live-fire exercises and F-16 flyovers were conducted aboard the frigate.

France contributed a naval vessel, a tanker aircraft, and drone-equipped mountain infantry. This Short Notice Activity Planned Exercise (SNAPEX) runs concurrently with the staff exercise Opportune Jaguar in Denmark, training headquarters to identify and counter Arctic threats.

Denmark's efforts are part of a broader strategy to bolster its Arctic presence. In late January 2025, the government announced a 14.6 billion-kroner ($2.3 billion) defence agreement with Greenland and the Faroe Islands to improve surveillance and sovereignty maintenance.

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This includes acquiring three new Arctic naval vessels, two long-range surveillance drones, and enhanced satellite capabilities, addressing previous defence cuts, and responding to evolving security dynamics. The initiative underscores Denmark's role in protecting vital sea routes and resources in the resource-rich Arctic, where melting ice has heightened international interest.

While emphasising strong ties with the US military, including planned F-16 landings at the American-operated Pituffik Space Base, the exercise occurs against a backdrop of US-Denmark tensions. President Donald Trump's repeated calls for US jurisdiction over Greenland, including unsubstantiated suggestions of military force, have been firmly rejected by Danish and Greenlandic leaders, who assert the island is not for sale.

Last month, Denmark summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen following reports of covert US influence operations in Greenland linked to Trump associates. Concurrently, concerns about Russia's two-decade military buildup in the Arctic persist, with Danish Joint Arctic Command Chief Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen describing Moscow as a "regional superpower". He anticipates Russia redirecting resources post-Ukraine war, prompting NATO's proactive measures to deter potential aggression.

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