Last month, NATO member Denmark highlighted its commitment to the security of Greenland, the North American island it has controlled since the 18th century, in a joint exercise with the United States Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH) coordinated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, announced that the dynamic operation exercise carried out from the facility saw personnel and aircraft from multiple U.S. Air National Guard units, including KC-135 Stratotankers, F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, and F-16 Fighting Falcons, “surged to the strategically important location,” where they operated alongside Danish personnel.
“This exercise demonstrated our ability to quickly and efficiently deploy forces to the Arctic, showcasing the adaptability necessary to operate in this unique and demanding environment,” explained Lt. Gen. Luke Ahmann, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space) commander.
Ahmann said it also highlighted the strength of the partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark.
“We deeply value their collaboration and the critical support they provide, particularly the Royal Danish Air Force’s commitment to search and rescue capabilities in this region,” added Ahmann. “Their partnership is essential to ensuring the safety and security of operations in the Arctic.”
National Guard Goes North
Multiple National Guard aircraft were deployed to Ptuffik Space Base, including three KC-135 Stratotankers from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing, two F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing, and two F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing.
The Royal Danish Air Force supported the operation with a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft and specialized and highly trained personnel in search and rescue (SAR) operations.
It was part of ongoing efforts to bolster Arctic security and ensure NORAD’s ability to monitor and respond to potential threats effectively.
“The rapid timeline presented a unique challenge,” said Maj. Daniel Schoettle, CONR-1AF (AFNORTH & AFSPACE) Operations Contingency Plans chief. “Setting up a forward operating location within days, from coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment to ensuring adequate support on the ground, required meticulous planning and seamless execution. The success of this exercise demonstrates the exceptional capabilities and dedication of our Airmen and the strength of our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Strategic Significance
Greenland remains strategically significant to the United States due to its geographic location for missile and naval monitoring, as well as its natural resources, including rare earth minerals.
In February, the United States Air Force deployed F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft as part of a broader effort to bolster the island’s defenses.
Greenland has also been a political hot button since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, as he called for its sale to the United States. It was not the first time Washington had sought to acquire the territory, which is geographically located in North America on the tectonic plate, yet is politically part of Europe due to being an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark began colonizing Greenland after the Kalmar Union between Denmark and Norway was dissolved in 1523, with Copenhagen retaining its claims. Following the separation of Norway and Denmark during the Napoleonic Wars, the Treaty of Kiel granted Denmark full sovereignty over Greenland. However, its status as a colony was not abolished until 1953, when the Danish constitution was amended and Greenland was officially incorporated into the Kingdom of Denmark as a country. It gained home rule, with its own parliament and government to handle domestic affairs, in 1979. That was expanded to include other responsibilities beyond foreign policy, defense, and currency in 2009.
Not a State – But Not For Lacking of Trying
The calls earlier this year for the United States to buy Greenland were far from the first. In 1867, after the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, a similar idea was considered, but no formal request was made. In 1910, however, Washington proposed a territorial exchange that would have given two Philippine islands to Denmark in exchange for Greenland, yet a deal was never concluded.
Following the Second World War in 1946, the Truman administration viewed Greenland as being strategically vital for the United States military, and Washington offered $100 million in gold for the island. President Trump publicly suggested in 2019 that the U.S. was again interested, but Denmark rebuffed the idea.
Despite not being a state or even a U.S. territory, Greenland is still home to the United States military’s most northernmost installation, Thule Air Base.
Formerly known as Thule Air Force Base, it was established as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base in 1951 and currently serves as a United States Space Force missile warning and satellite control facility. Denmark, as a founding member of the NATO alliance, allowed the base to be operated by the U.S. Air Force as part of the 1949 and 1951 Greenland Defense Agreements with the United States.
During the Cold War, aircraft, including the Convair B-36 Peacemaker, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, and B-52 Stratofortress, as well as the Northrop F-89 Scorpion jet interceptors, were stationed at Thule AFB.
The facility is located 750 miles (1,210 km) north of the Arctic Circle and just 947 miles (1,524 km) from the North Pole. It is home to a significant number of the global network’s missile warning sensors, as well as the space surveillance and space control sensors of Space Delta 2.
In 2020, Thule Air Base was transferred to the Space Force, and three years later, it was renamed Pituffik Space Base – to pay homage to the Greenlandic people, as it is the native name for the region. Although the base is also home to the northernmost deep-water port in the world, it is locked in by ice for nine months of the year. Yet, the base airfield operates year-round.
