Copenhagen. Military activities have intensified in the Arctic region amid ongoing global political tension over the sovereignty of Greenland. Following US President Donald Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland and recent threats, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced on Monday that its military aircraft will soon be deployed to Greenland’s strategically important Pitfik Space Base. Formerly known as Thule Air Force Base, the base is located in northwestern Greenland and is a key hub for the US missile warning system.
According to NORAD officials, the deployment is part of routine military activities and is intended to further strengthen North America’s air defenses. The statement clarified that this step has been taken under the existing defense agreements between the US, Canada and Denmark and for this the necessary diplomatic approval has been taken from Copenhagen (Denmark). Also, the local administration of Greenland has also been informed about this military movement. Meanwhile, Denmark has also massively increased its military presence on the island. According to reports, several planes carrying additional Danish troops and heavy military equipment have reached Greenland’s capital Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. Along with the contingent of more than 200 soldiers already deployed there, new units have also been deployed on strategic fronts. This military activity is being seen at a time when a multinational exercise led by Denmark has recently concluded.
US President Trump argues that Greenland is indispensable to US national security due to the growing Arctic ambitions of Russia and China. They have even indicated that they can go to any extent to gain control over Greenland. Expressing concern over this situation, Denmark’s Foreign Minister said that Europe is waking up with a new threat every day, which is not good for international relations. However, Germany has taken a different stance from other European countries on this issue, saying that America’s apprehensions from the security point of view are not completely baseless. At present, these military activities have increased fears of future conflict in the Arctic region.