The US announced it would deploy military aircraft to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. On January 19, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said that US aircraft would soon be present at Pituffik - a base once known as the Thule Air Force Base.
NORAD affirmed that this is part of pre-planned operations to support the routine task of protecting North America.
NORAD emphasized that this is a step within the framework of long-term defense cooperation between the US, Canada and Denmark, which has been coordinated with Copenhagen and notified to the Greenland authorities.
According to NORAD, the participating forces are operating with full necessary diplomatic procedures. These aircraft will support long-term and scattered deployments over NORAD's 3 strategic areas, including Alaska, Canada and the US mainland.
Pituffik base in northwestern Greenland is a key link in the US defense system. This base operates a missile early warning system that plays a vital role in North American security, and is also an important communication center in the Arctic region - where strategic competition between major powers is increasingly clear.
The US move comes in parallel with Denmark's strengthening forces on the island. Many Danish aircraft carrying soldiers and military equipment landed in Greenland on January 19, adding to more than 200 soldiers already stationed there.
Danish armed forces confirmed that a significant military unit, along with the Commander of the country's Army, has been deployed to the capital Nuuk and the Kangerlussuaq region - two strategically significant locations in terms of military and logistics.
The troop increase took place right after a multinational exercise led by Denmark last weekend, and in the context of European public opinion being particularly sensitive to the statements of US President Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump recently did not rule out the possibility of using force to seize control of Greenland, arguing that this island is of vital importance to US national security, especially in the face of strategic challenges from Russia and China in the Arctic.
Mr. Trump's tough stance has faced strong reactions from European allies. Germany and France called on the European Union (EU) to have a unified response to Washington's threats, including the possibility of imposing taxes on countries opposing plans related to Greenland.
At the same time, these countries also urged the US to de-escalate tensions and avoid pushing transatlantic relations into a new spiral of confrontation.
EU officials warned that if the US actually takes trade sanctions, Brussels will not rule out the possibility of retaliation. This makes Greenland, which is an autonomous territory with a population of just over 50,000, suddenly become a hotspot in the global geopolitical picture.
For its part, Denmark affirmed its readiness to discuss with the US strengthening its military presence to ensure regional security, but resolutely rejected any idea of transferring sovereignty over Greenland.
