By Micah Jonah
January 20, 2026
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has announced that United States military aircraft will be deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, as diplomatic and security tensions rise over President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire the self governing Danish territory.
In a statement issued on Monday, the joint US Canadian defence organisation confirmed that its aircraft would soon arrive at the strategic Arctic installation.
“North American Aerospace Defense Command aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland,” NORAD said, without disclosing the number or type of aircraft to be deployed.
The move comes at a time of heightened geopolitical strain between Washington and Copenhagen, following repeated statements by President Trump, suggesting that Greenland is vital to US national security and should come under American control.
Denmark, which oversees Greenland’s foreign and defence policy while the territory manages its internal affairs, has firmly rejected any suggestion of selling or transferring sovereignty over the island. Danish and European Union officials have also warned that any attempt to coerce or pressure Greenland could further strain transatlantic relations.
Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is a key part of US missile warning and space surveillance systems, giving it strategic importance in monitoring activities across the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
Security analysts say the latest deployment signals a strengthening of the US military posture in the Arctic, a region that has seen growing competition among major powers due to its strategic location, emerging shipping routes, and untapped natural resources.
While NORAD described the deployment as part of routine defence operations, observers note that it coincides with political tensions surrounding Greenland, raising concerns about possible militarisation of an already sensitive region.
Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue in the coming days, as European leaders push for respect for territorial sovereignty and adherence to international law, while the United States maintains that its actions are driven by security considerations.
