Tensions around Greenland are rising fast. Denmark has begun sending more soldiers to Greenland, while the United States is preparing to fly military aircraft to the island, CNBC reported. The moves come after a series of aggressive comments from US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned Denmark’s control over the Arctic territory.

On Monday night, Danish troops started arriving at Greenland’s main international airport, according to local broadcaster TV 2. The Danish Armed Forces described the deployment as a “substantial contribution” to security in the region.

Danish troops land in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq

Maj Gen Søren Andersen, who heads Denmark’s Arctic Command, confirmed that around 100 Danish soldiers have already reached Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, Fox News reported. More troops are expected to be sent to Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland in the coming days.

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Andersen said the deployments were part of Denmark’s Arctic security planning. Earlier, he had stressed that the troop movement was not directly triggered by Trump’s remarks, but by wider security concerns in the region. Greenland sits in a strategically important part of the Arctic, and its location has drawn attention from global powers.

Earlier, Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the country is strengthening its military presence in and around Greenland in coordination with NATO allies. According to Reuters, Danish forces already stationed there could remain for a year or longer, with more rotations planned in the future.

US military aircraft heading to Pituffik Space Base

At the same time, US military aircraft operating under NORAD are expected to arrive soon at Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, CNBC reported. The aircraft are meant to support “long-planned activities,” according to the US officials.

“North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland.  Along with aircraft operating from bases in the continental United States and Canada, they will support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring defence cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” the department shared in a post on X. While US officials have not linked the flights directly to Trump’s statements, the timing has raised eyebrows across Europe. In its post on X, the organisation said the operations have been coordinated with Denmark and that Greenland has been informed.

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Trump says Denmark failed to protect Greenland

The situation escalated after Trump posted a warning on Truth Social on January 18. He accused Denmark of failing to protect Greenland from foreign threats. “NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland,’” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!”

On Monday, a text message exchange between Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was released in a statement. “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” Trump wrote, according to Bloomberg. Trump went on to argue that the island was essential for global security. “I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States,” he wrote.  “The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”