US to Deploy NORAD Aircraft in Greenland

Military move comes amid rising tensions over Trump’s push to acquire Danish territory

January 20, 2026: The United States will deploy a North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, amid growing tensions linked to President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. NORAD said the deployment is part of long-planned activities and has been coordinated with both Denmark and Greenland, underscoring continued defence cooperation among the US, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark.

In an official statement, NORAD said the aircraft will operate alongside units based in the continental United States and Canada to support sustained defence operations across the Arctic region. Authorities in Greenland have been informed, and all forces involved are operating with the required diplomatic clearances. NORAD routinely conducts such dispersed operations across its three regions—Alaska, Canada and the continental US—to safeguard North American airspace.

The deployment follows a multinational military exercise led by Denmark, involving personnel from Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands, aimed at reinforcing Arctic security. The move comes as Trump escalated his rhetoric over Greenland, threatening tariffs on Denmark and other European nations unless they agree to sell the territory. Citing national security concerns and growing Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, Trump warned of tariffs beginning February 1, 2026, with steeper measures from June if no agreement is reached.