Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any attack on Greenland would trigger NATO’s Article 5, binding all alliance members to respond collectively.
BY PC Bureau
January 15, 2026: In a dramatic turn of events, Denmark and its NATO allies have begun deploying military personnel and assets to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that the Arctic island remains firmly under Danish sovereignty and Greenlandic self-rule. Frederiksen warned that any attack on Greenland—part of the Kingdom of Denmark and covered by NATO’s collective defence guarantee—would trigger Article 5, obligating all alliance members, including the United States, to respond.
The deployments mark a significant reinforcement of Denmark’s military presence in the Arctic. According to defence sources, an initial wave of troops, aircraft, and support staff has arrived at Nuuk International Airport aboard Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The buildup is taking place under expanded exercises linked to Operation Arctic Endurance, which Copenhagen describes as a precautionary move to strengthen regional security amid mounting geopolitical strain.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the operation involves “aircraft, ships, and soldiers” working closely with NATO partners. Activities may include protecting critical infrastructure, assisting local authorities, hosting allied forces, deploying fighter jets, and conducting naval patrols in and around Greenland.
Allied participation has been limited in scale but high in symbolism. Germany has sent a 13-member reconnaissance team aboard an A400M transport aircraft for a short-term mission. France has confirmed that around 15 mountain infantry troops are already in Nuuk as part of an exercise, with reinforcements expected at Denmark’s request. Sweden has dispatched army officers, Norway is contributing two soldiers, while the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have each sent a single military officer. Together, the forces aim to demonstrate alliance unity and enhance operational readiness in the Arctic’s extreme conditions.
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🚨JUST IN: In a stunning escalation, Danish and allied NATO troops have begun pouring into Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, after Danish PM Mette Frederiksen declared that Greenland remains firmly under Danish sovereignty and autonomy — and that any attack would trigger NATO Article 5. pic.twitter.com/w57X5bhPYD
— WORLD NEWS (@_MAGA_NEWS_) January 15, 2026
The military moves follow tense talks in Washington on January 14, 2026, where Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rasmussen later described the discussions as “not easy.” While the sides agreed to establish a working group on Arctic security, a “fundamental disagreement” remains over U.S. ambitions toward Greenland. Frederiksen subsequently said Washington’s desire to acquire the island appears unchanged, despite repeated rejections from both Copenhagen and Nuuk.
The standoff was reignited by President Donald Trump’s renewed insistence that the United States must control Greenland for national security reasons. Trump has argued that the territory—strategically located between North America and Europe—is vital to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, secure emerging shipping routes, support missile defence systems, and access rare earth minerals crucial for advanced technology and defence industries. He has dismissed existing U.S. basing rights, including the Pituffik Space Base, as inadequate and has not ruled out coercive measures, declaring the U.S. would act “whether they like it or not.”
Denmark has responded with sharp warnings. Frederiksen said Greenland “belongs to the Greenlanders” and cautioned that any U.S. military move against the island would threaten NATO itself and undermine the post-World War II security order. European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK have issued a joint statement backing Denmark, stressing that Arctic security must be managed collectively through NATO and in line with UN principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has also rejected what he called “fantasies of annexation,” insisting that the island’s future can only be decided by its people. Home to about 57,000 residents—mostly Inuit—Greenland enjoys wide-ranging autonomy under the Kingdom of Denmark, though Copenhagen retains responsibility for defence and foreign policy. Public sentiment on the island remains strongly opposed to any U.S. takeover.
Analysts warn that the dispute risks deepening fractures within the transatlantic alliance at a time of heightened global instability. While the United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland under long-standing agreements dating back to 1951, the latest deployments signal Europe’s determination to deter escalation and assert that Greenland’s status is not up for negotiation. As allied forces settle into Nuuk during the Arctic winter, the focus now turns to whether diplomacy—or confrontation—will shape Greenland’s future in 2026.
