Denmark trains first conscripts in Greenland amid Arctic tensions

Denmark has begun training its first group of soldiers in Greenland. Following claims over the territory by US President Donald Trump, Denmark has deployed conscripts to Greenland for the first time.

Copenhagen has increased its military presence in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and has now deployed conscripts for the first time to the island’s capital, Nuuk, and the Kangerlussuaq airbase.

Captain Laura, a company commander currently leading the soldiers in Greenland, said: “The current state of the world means we need to become more accustomed to Arctic terrain.”

Greenland became the focal point of transatlantic tensions after US President Donald Trump laid claim to the territory.

Other European nations rushed to Denmark’s aid earlier this year before Trump, who had refused to rule out the possibility of military action, ultimately backed down.

At the height of the crisis, Denmark sent blood bags to Greenland and planned the destruction of the airstrips in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq in order to slow the advance of a potential adversary as much as possible.

Approximately 300 professional soldiers are currently deployed in the region.

Around 100 soldiers from the Schleswig Foot Regiment will train in Greenland for roughly a month as the first cohort under Denmark’s new 11-month conscription programme, introduced in February 2026.

Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus stated in June that these young service members would be assigned there to “tasks that do not require longer-term specialist training”.

Denmark introduced gender-neutral conscription in the wake of the war in Ukraine that began in 2022.

Replacing the previous four-month programme, young Danes now undergo five months of basic training before serving the remainder of their term in operational assignments, such as deployment to Greenland.