Updated 11.25: According to DR, European troops are following.
Updated 12.35: Naalakkersuisut confirms military presence.
The Danish defense sends a forward command to Greenland, consisting of military material and forward troops.
It experiences DR None
According to the media, the forward command must prepare to receive larger forces from the army and the rest of the defence.
DR also has pictures of a Challenger aircraft from the Norwegian Armed Forces that landed in Nuuk on Monday.
But DR has not been able to get confirmation that the plane has anything to do with the front command, and the Defense Command has no comment on the story.
The US has repeatedly criticized Denmark's defense of Greenland.
The Minister of Defense mentioned the possibility of a larger permanent presence
On Tuesday, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V) spoke about a greater military presence in Greenland.
- We are now moving forward with the whole issue of a more permanent larger presence in Greenland from Danish defence, but also with the participation of other countries, he said after a meeting of the Foreign Policy Council.
The Minister of Defense then mentioned that in 2026 there will be exercise and training activities with other NATO countries in Greenland.
Jens-Frederik: One should be prepared for more military
The military perspective was also touched upon by the chairman of Naalakkersuisut Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) in an interview with Sermitsiaq and KNR on Tuesday afternoon.
Here he stated that citizens must be prepared to see more military in the cities:
- Danish defense has been visibly present for a while now. We have entered into some capacity packages with Denmark, which involve large investments in surveillance and preparedness. We have just held a large NATO exercise, and those exercises are planned all the time, said Jens-Frederik Nielsen in the interview, and he added:
- Because if you have to defend Greenland, you also have to know Greenland.
Arctic Command, which handles the Defense's tasks in and around Greenland and has its headquarters in Nuuk, today has approximately 150 employees divided between staff functions, logistics and permanent installations.
In addition, the Arctic Command has, among other things, inspection ships, aircraft, helicopters and the sled patrol Sirius.
International troops follow
According to political rapporteur for Enhedslisten Pelle Dragsted get the Danish vanguard soon joined by international troops.
It writes DR None
- This is something we have requested for the past week. It is wisely. And I can understand that there are also troops from other European countries on the way to Greenland, says Pelle Dragsted to DR.
Sermitsiaq is trying to get a comment from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Denmark and NATO countries are increasing their presence in Greenland
From Wednesday, there will be an increased military presence in and around Greenland in close cooperation with NATO allies, informs Ministry of Defence.
This is what Naalakkersuisut and the Ministry of Defense write in one press release.
- As part of the NATO alliance, it is a core priority for Naalakkersuisut that the defense and security in and around Greenland be strengthened, and that it happens in close cooperation with our NATO allies. Ministry of Defense and Naalakkersuisut works closely together to launch initiatives and collaborate among both our Arctic and European allies.
- When the exercises first start, the Greenlandic will population will be continuously informed about the activities via Arctic Commands platforms, says naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt (S).
- The Defense will, together with a number of Arctic and European allies in the coming weeks explore how an increased presence and exercise activity in the Arctic can concretely take place, says Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V).
In 2026, the exercise activities will, among other things, consist of guarding of socially critical installations, assistance to authorities i Greenland including the police, reception of allied troops, deployment of combat aircraft in and around Greenland as well as naval task solving.
