Can Denmark defend Greenland? A look at its military strength and limits

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• Denmark's military defends Greenland under NATO, with no Greenlandic army.
• Denmark upgrades Arctic defense, increasing troops and surveillance in Greenland.
• US runs Pituffik Space Base in Greenland per defense deals with Denmark.

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As the White House and lawmakers debate renewed interest from the Trump administration in Greenland, questions have emerged about how strong Denmark’s military is and what role it plays in defending the vast Arctic island. Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, does not have its own army. Denmark’s military is responsible for defence, foreign policy and security in and around Greenland under NATO’s framework and existing treaties.

According to the 2025 ranking from Global Firepower, Denmark comes in at 45th out of 145 countries, placing it in the mid-tier of global military powers. The Danish armed forces comprise roughly 83,000 personnel, including army, navy and air force units, a fleet of 31 fighter jets, 34 helicopters and nine frigates. These figures reflect a small but modern force focused on national defence, alliance commitments and international operations rather than high-end power projection.

The Royal Danish Air Force has been upgrading its capabilities with new F-35A stealth fighters, bringing its planned fleet to more than 40 aircraft and investing in long-range surveillance and Arctic defence assets to address growing strategic interest in the High North.

Denmark’s military presence in Greenland itself is managed by the Joint Arctic Command, a specialised formation tasked with sovereignty patrols, surveillance, search and rescue, and cooperation with NATO partners. Greenland hosts a small number of Danish forces at key points such as Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Station Nord, alongside Coast Guard and patrol units. Elite units such as the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol maintain a symbolic yet real presence across remote Arctic regions, using traditional dog sleds to traverse vast distances for reconnaissance and sovereign enforcement.

Despite these investments and capabilities, Denmark’s defence is modest when compared with larger NATO members. The United States, for instance, fields a military with vastly greater manpower, aircraft and naval power. Greenland is also home to the Pituffik Space Base, operated by the U.S. Space Force under longstanding defence agreements, which hosts key missile warning and space surveillance systems that are integrated with North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Denmark has been increasing defence spending and cooperation with allies to strengthen Arctic security in recent years, a response in part to Russia’s

expanded military activity in the region and Beijing’s growing interest in Arctic shipping and resources. Copenhagen recently allocated additional funds to boost forces stationed in Greenland, patrol ships and long-range drones to better monitor its vast territory.

As debates continue in Washington over Greenland’s future, many NATO leaders have pushed back against any suggestion the United States could unilaterally take control of the island, warning that such a move could fracture the alliance. Danish leaders have emphasised that any defence or security cooperation with the United States must respect Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s preferences.

In sum, Denmark’s military is professional and increasingly modernised, well suited to national and alliance duties, but relatively small in scale. Any discussion about shifting control of Greenland inevitably highlights the reality that defence of the island today rests with Denmark and NATO partners, not Greenland itself.