Denmark's Arctic commander says focus is on Russia, not U.S., amid security concerns

Reuters ^ | 01 16 2026 | Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Janis Laizans

[yesthatjallen]

NUUK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Denmark's Joint Arctic Command in Greenland is focused on countering potential Russian activity, not defending against U.S. military threats, its head Major General Soren Andersen said on Friday, amid renewed attention on the Arctic region.

U.S. President Donald Trumphas repeatedly described Greenland as vital to U.S. security and has even declined to rule out the use of force to take control of the vast autonomous Arctic island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

"My focus is not toward the U.S., not at all. My focus is on Russia," Andersen told Reuters on board a Danish warship in Nuuk, Greenland's capital.

Andersen dismissed suggestions of conflict between NATO allies, describing such a scenario as "hypothetical".

"I don't see a NATO ally attacking another NATO ally," he said. Referring to Denmark's defence plans, he added, "We work on those, but it's a normal thing for us to do. My task is to work up here for the defence of the kingdom together with NATO."

In response to U.S. concerns, European nations dispatched small numbers of military personnel to Greenland this week in preparation for the Arctic Endurance NATO military exercise.

SNIP

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TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arcticendurance; denmark; natoexercise; russia

[Sacajaweau]

Interesting...that all of a sudden, the EU is interested in protecting Greenland....from Russia...

[chajin]

What he really should be concerned about is a possible raid from the Faroe Islands. (/s)

[stars & stripes forever]

No country wants to confront Trump. He holds the purse string and the tariffs.

[medical conservative]

If he wants to fight Russia Send him and his children to the eastern Front like Colonel Wilhelm Klink would love to do if it was not for that bumbling fool Sergeant Hans Schultz “I know (see, hear) nothing!”

Schultz would stab you in the back for a good strudel.

Believe it or not that show made 6 seasons and I saw every episode enough, more....

[Dr. Sivana]

Believe it or not that show made 6 seasons

A German girl who had never seen the show saw the episode with the gold bars, and did a YouTube reaction video. She was impressed with the production values, with even the extras mostly speaking German well. She does think that Colonel Klink was likely raised in Austria, though, based on his accent.

[Bishop_Malachi]

Interesting...that all of a sudden, the EU is interested in protecting Greenland....from Russia...

_______________________________________________

Well with all those troops massing near Greenland, I can see why. /s

[libertylover]

Wish we had this guy as the head of Denmark.

[The Louiswu]

Re Greenland, there is nothing much there to protect, it's just it's location is a strategic point in the ongoing, never ending fight against Russia as it is an ideal point to have early warning stations, surface and submarine bases.

If such facilities were built the tiny native populace could expect a large increase in the standard of living. The US annexing Greenland is a not just a good idea, its of strategic import.

[Alter Kaker]

The US already has as many bases in Greenland as it wants and can operate with absolute freedom. Denmark gave the United States effective military control over Greenland in 1951 by treaty and has operated Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Force Base) continuously.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Well....Hitler was Austrian. Ja? (And they did a great job convincing everyone that he was really German!)

[Karl Spooner]

Mass protests in Greenland!

.

[piasa]

They have been concerned about vulnerability in that area since at least 2018, regardless of the political posturing of EU politicians who have to please a base more brainwashed than ours by leftist dominated media.

[dfwgator]

It’s China they need to worry about.