On the icy expanse of Greenland, a dramatic display of military might is underway, and the world is watching closely. From September 9 to 19, 2025, Denmark is leading Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in Greenland’s modern history, drawing more than 550 troops from across Europe but, notably, none from the United States. The exercise comes at a time of heightened international tension over the Arctic’s strategic value, with recent U.S. ambitions for jurisdiction over Greenland adding fuel to the fire.
According to Reuters, Denmark’s Arctic commander, Major-General Soren Andersen, confirmed that while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received an invitation, no U.S. military units were asked to participate. "We work together with colleagues on the U.S. Pituffik Space Base, but they were not invited with units for this exercise," Andersen told Reuters. This marks a significant departure from previous Denmark-led drills in Greenland, where American participation was routine.
The exercise, dubbed Arctic Light 2025, involves not only Denmark but also France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Each country is contributing specialized forces and equipment. Denmark is fielding a frigate, two helicopters, two F-16 fighter jets, and personnel from all branches of its armed forces, including special forces. France has sent a naval ship, a tanker aircraft, and mountain infantry equipped with advanced drones. The drills are taking place both on land and at sea, with Danish and French forces conducting maneuvers off the coast of Nuuk, as reported by Reuters, including the sight of a Danish F-16 soaring over the frigate Niels Juel on September 15.
The absence of American troops is not just a logistical detail—it’s a message. Hans Peter Michaelsen, an independent military analyst, told Reuters, "The exercise has a strong political signaling to demonstrate Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland with NATO allies." He elaborated, "The exercise is basically designed to show the Americans that Denmark looks after Greenland and does so with the help of other major NATO countries."
The backdrop to these maneuvers is a complex web of strained diplomatic ties and shifting alliances. Relations between Copenhagen and Washington have cooled in recent years, particularly since former U.S. President Donald Trump openly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland for the United States—a proposition Denmark and Greenland firmly rejected. Trump’s refusal to rule out the use of military force to achieve this aim, as reported by Reuters and the Associated Press, has only deepened the rift. In August, Denmark’s foreign minister summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen after reports surfaced, via Denmark’s main national broadcaster, alleging covert influence operations in Greenland by individuals linked to Trump.
Despite the current tensions, Denmark’s military leadership has sought to downplay any notion that the exercise is a pointed rebuke to Washington. "We have worked together with the U.S. for decades, both in exercises and also operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and so on," Andersen said, as quoted by Reuters. He added, "That will continue this week, because Denmark will be taking its fighter jets to the United States’ Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. So, we will land up there, and I think the pilots will have a cup of coffee with the base commander there." The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen echoed this sentiment, stating, "While we are not participating in this particular exercise, we continue our robust military cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark and other Arctic allies."
Yet, the timing and scale of Arctic Light 2025 leave little doubt that Denmark is intent on asserting its sovereignty over Greenland, especially as the Arctic region grows in geopolitical importance. The government in Copenhagen has ramped up defense investment and military activity in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory, since Trump’s comments about acquiring the island. In late January, Denmark announced a 14.6 billion-kroner ($2.3 billion) agreement with Greenland and the Faeroe Islands to bolster surveillance and maintain sovereignty in the region. This includes plans for three new Arctic naval vessels, two additional long-range surveillance drones, and expanded satellite capacity.
The strategic stakes are high. The Arctic is not just a remote wilderness; it’s a region rich in minerals and increasingly accessible as climate change melts sea ice. The exercise prepares NATO allies for potential scenarios involving increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, Andersen explained. "I think it’s fair to say that Russia has built up in the Arctic for the last 20 years, and Russia is a regional superpower in the Arctic," Andersen said. He warned that once the war in Ukraine ends, "Russia will start building up again other places and use their resources not in Ukraine, but other places in the world."
France’s participation in Arctic Light 2025 underscores the broader European commitment to Arctic security. The French contribution includes a naval vessel, an air refueling tanker aircraft, and a drone unit, according to Reuters. These assets are designed to enhance surveillance and rapid response capabilities in a region where distances are vast and conditions unforgiving.
The U.S., for its part, maintains a permanent military presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland—a legacy of the Cold War, when it operated 17 bases on the island. Today, Pituffik remains a critical outpost for American interests in the Arctic, even as Denmark and other NATO allies take a more prominent role in regional defense. The U.S. Embassy spokesperson welcomed NATO efforts to enhance Arctic preparedness, telling Reuters that such exercises are "welcome" as part of collective defense.
For Greenland itself, the exercise represents both an assertion of sovereignty and a test of alliances. The island’s government, while semi-autonomous, has consistently rejected any suggestion that it is for sale or subject to foreign control. Denmark’s actions—both diplomatically and militarily—signal a commitment to defending Greenland’s interests in partnership with European allies, rather than ceding ground to outside powers, even powerful friends like the United States.
As the world’s eyes turn northward, Arctic Light 2025 stands as a vivid reminder that the Arctic is no longer a distant frontier, but a stage for great power competition and cooperation alike. The maneuvers may end on September 19, but the questions they raise about sovereignty, security, and the future of the Arctic will linger long after the last jet has landed.
