Norway and Denmark have signed a new defence cooperation agreement that could significantly reshape Arctic surveillance and military collaboration in the Nordic region. The agreement, finalised in Brussels on 5 June by Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik and his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen, expands joint efforts in training, equipment maintenance, and military procurement.
The deal marks another step in the growing network of bilateral defence pacts among Nordic and European countries, reinforcing the region’s role as a strategic pillar of NATO’s northern flank.
Greenland surveillance under the spotlight
A key aspect of the new agreement involves discussions on using Norway’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for surveillance over Greenland — a move that could bolster Denmark’s monitoring capabilities in the Arctic, an area of increasing geopolitical importance.
The P-8 Poseidon, a modified Boeing 737 equipped with sonar buoys, torpedoes and advanced sensors, is considered among the world’s most capable sub-hunting and maritime surveillance aircraft. Norway operates five of these aircraft from its Evenes Air Base, north of the Arctic Circle, primarily to track Russian submarine activity in the Barents Sea.
Denmark, which has long faced criticism from the United States for insufficient monitoring of Greenland’s eastern waters, is reportedly interested in leasing flight hours from Norway. This arrangement could allow for more consistent and technologically advanced patrols around Greenland without Denmark having to acquire its own fleet.
Colonel Hans Martin Steiro, commander at Evenes, confirmed that such discussions are underway: “There is no doubt that our P-8 aircraft are also well suited to fly to Greenland and monitor the waters there. If a political decision is made, we will carry it out,” he told TV 2.
Strategic and operational challenges
While the agreement opens the door to enhanced cooperation, Norwegian officials have also raised concerns. The P-8 fleet is currently sized to meet Norway’s own surveillance needs. “We have just enough capacity to manage our existing missions,” Steiro cautioned, noting that reallocating aircraft to support Danish operations could impact Norway’s monitoring of the Russian Northern Fleet.
Despite this, the initiative is seen as a pragmatic solution for Denmark. It reflects a broader effort by Nordic countries to pool resources and coordinate military capabilities, especially in response to Russia‘s increased military activity and the demands of NATO’s evolving defence posture.
In parallel, Denmark is also exploring the option of acquiring Sweden’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, which are better suited for monitoring large land and air spaces. However, leasing Norwegian P-8s remains the most immediate and cost-effective way to address the pressing gap in Arctic surveillance.
Toward a Nordic defence architecture
The agreement is part of a wider trend towards closer Nordic defence integration. Joint procurement initiatives, such as the acquisition of CV90 infantry vehicles and shared training facilities, underscore a collective shift towards interoperability and mutual reinforcement.
Construction will soon begin on a new Nordic Air Operations Centre in Bodø, Norway, which will serve as a command hub for NATO’s northern flank. This institutional framework signals a possible move toward a de facto Nordic defence union, even if formal integration remains off the table for now.
As Arctic geopolitics evolve, the surveillance of Greenland—a territory of vast strategic significance and growing global interest—will likely become a central element in Nordic and transatlantic security planning. The Danish-Norwegian agreement marks a pivotal moment in aligning northern Europe’s defence priorities with broader NATO objectives.
