NUUK, Greenland: Denmark did not invite the US military to take part in Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in Greenland’s modern history, as NATO allies step up defense cooperation in the Arctic amid US interest in the island.
Denmark’s Arctic commander, Soren Andersen, confirmed that, while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been invited, no US military units were asked to participate.
“We work together with colleagues on the US Pituffik Space Base, but they were not invited with units for this exercise,” Andersen told Reuters.
The US has previously participated in Denmark-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 robust military cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark and other Arctic allies.”
Independent military analyst Hans Peter Michaelsen told Reuters the exercise has “a strong political signalling” to demonstrate Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland with NATO allies.
