The Danish Ministry of Defence is sending military recruits to Greenland for the first time in recent years. The recruitment programme is to be the largest in the country’s history and is meant to strengthen Denmark’s military presence on the autonomous island, partly in response to frequent past requests from the United States to purchase the territory.

The White House, which worked on behalf of the former U.S. President, Donald Trump, often voiced national security concerns and blamed Denmark for lacking in defense of the Arctic. But the Danish authorities and the Government of Greenland both categorically refused to consider any proposals for a transfer of territory. The Danish government has pledged massive defence spending as a result of the increased geopolitical interest in the region, which had been poorly-funded in the past.

These new defence measures include a military drill in which Danish troops are practising to prepare for extreme weather conditions, so as to become “Arctic Enduring”. The specialized training is part of the overall “Arctic Sentry” mission by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mission that is strategically planned to support the alliance’s overall presence and operational readiness in the High North region.

These growing military operations from the west have raised serious concerns in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The increased military presence raises the possibility of regional confrontation, Russian officials say. At the same time, the Chinese are also gradually expanding their footprint in the Arctic by closer cooperation with Moscow. However, in the face of these geopolitical challenges, Danish troops have pledged to their allies to defend their interests and maintain a strong presence in the area.