The United States has deployed a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft to Greenland as tensions rise over President Donald Trump’s move to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
In a post on X, NORAD said the aircraft would soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base to support a range of long-planned activities. The command stressed that the deployment was coordinated with both Denmark and Greenland.
“North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland. Along with aircraft operating from bases in the continental United States and Canada, they will support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring defence cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” the post said.
“This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces are operating with the requisite diplomatic clearances. The Government of Greenland has also been informed of the planned activities,” it added.
The US move followed a multinational military exercise led by Danish forces in Greenland amid President Trump’s threats to seize the vast Arctic island. Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland sent small contingents of military personnel to participate in the exercise.
According to a Financial Times report, Denmark has also dispatched additional troops to Greenland after Trump declined to rule out the use of force to acquire the island. Several aircraft carrying Danish troops and military equipment reportedly landed in Greenland on Monday.
Trump has already warned of imposing tariffs on European nations if a deal is not reached. The dispute threatens to destabilise the NATO alliance, which has underpinned Western security for decades and is already under strain due to the war in Ukraine and Trump’s stance on reducing US protection for allies unless they increase defence spending.