US has stationed military aircraft at a base in Greenland as Trump pushes efforts to acquire the territory
The military aircraft is expected to reach Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base shortly, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said, adding that the move will back long-scheduled regional defense activities.
The US military said it is preparing to deploy aircraft to a key military base in Greenland, a move that comes amid heightened tensions over President Donald Trump’s attempts to assert control over the Arctic region.
According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the aircraft will arrive “soon” at the Thule Air Base in Greenland, and the deployment will support long-planned regional defense operations.
“Operating from continental US and Canadian bases, these aircraft will support long-planned NORAD activities,” the command said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), and mentioned “ongoing defense cooperation” with Canada and Denmark.
NORAD emphasized that the activity was coordinated with Denmark and that the Greenlandic government had been notified in advance.
The military did not specify when the aircraft would arrive, but the timing has drawn attention as Trump escalates pressure on European allies over Greenland.
Tariff threats increase pressure on Europe
Trump has threatened to impose significant tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland if the US is not allowed to purchase Greenland—starting at 10 percent on February 1 and increasing to 25 percent by June. He has said these measures will remain in place until a deal is reached.
The US president’s comments have sparked a sharp political reaction across Europe. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Monday that Greenland “is not for sale.”
“Europe stands with the people of Denmark and Greenland. We are united in our resolve,” Metsola said, adding that Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “must be respected.”
“This will not change,” she said, while also indicating the European Union’s willingness to keep diplomatic channels open. “Europe will always be ready to continue discussions in a spirit of mutual respect.”
According to Danish officials, Denmark has also sent a significant number of additional troops to Greenland to bolster the island’s security.
Denmark proposes NATO surveillance mission in Greenland
Denmark has proposed that NATO launch a surveillance operation in Greenland with the support of the Arctic island’s authorities, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Monday after talks with the Alliance’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“We emphasized that NATO should pay more attention to security in the High North and the Arctic in general,” Poulsen said.
Details of the proposed operation have not yet been finalized, but the defense minister said that discussions have now reached a stage where a practical framework can begin to be developed, allowing for progress toward implementing the plan with NATO partners and Greenland.
However, Finnish President Alexander Stubb dismissed on Monday concerns that the US would use force to gain control of Greenland.
