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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- September 17, 2025 15:40
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Denmark has not invited the US military to participate in Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in modern Greenland history.
The exercise comes as NATO allies are increasing defense cooperation in the Arctic amid U.S. interest in the island.
Denmark's Arctic Commander, Soren Andersen, has confirmed that, although US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was invited, no US military units were invited to participate.
"We work together with colleagues at the US Pituffik Space Base, but they were not invited with units for this exercise," Andersen told Reuters.
The US has previously participated in Danish-led military exercises in Greenland. A spokesperson at the US Embassy in Copenhagen said that "while we are not participating in this particular exercise, we continue our strong military cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark and other Arctic allies."
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Independent military analyst Hans Peter Michaelsen told Reuters that the exercise has "a strong political signal" to demonstrate Denmark's concern for Greenland with NATO allies.
"The exercise is essentially designed to show the Americans that Denmark cares about Greenland and does so with the help of other major NATO countries," Michaelsen said.
Andersen has rejected suggestions that the exercise was intended to send a message to Washington.
Denmark has increased defense investment and military activity in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory, since comments by US President Donald Trump regarding the purchase of the strategically located territory and criticism of Denmark's efforts to defend it.
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Ties between Copenhagen and Washington have soured this year over Trump's refusal to rule out taking Greenland by force. Denmark last month summoned the top U.S. diplomat to Copenhagen over reports alleging covert influence operations by U.S. citizens in Greenland.
More than 2025 soldiers, including special forces, from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway are participating in the Arctic Light 9 exercise, which will take place from September 19 to 550.
