Denmark’s Greenland defence plan will invest DKK 27.4 billion (≈ €3.67bn) to strengthen security in Greenland, the Arctic and the North Atlantic, under a second agreement signed by Denmark, the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) and the Faroese Home Rule Government (Landsstýrið).
The package adds new capabilities including a military headquarters in Nuuk, a North Atlantic undersea cable, two additional Arctic vessels, more drones and maritime patrol aircraft capacity to support NATO in the region.
Arctic security and the GIUK gap
The agreement prioritises sovereignty assertion and situational awareness across the Arctic and the Atlantic approaches, including the GIUK gap between Greenland, Iceland and the UK—critical for transatlantic sea and air lanes.
By expanding surveillance above and below the waterline, Denmark aims to improve the ability to detect, identify and respond to threats, while supporting allied operations and deterrence.
Greenland defence in figures
The 2025 Second Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic allocates DKK 27.4bn (≈ €3.67bn) for:
- Two additional Arctic vessels with icebreaker capability, bringing the total new fleet to five.
- A maritime patrol aircraft capability (in cooperation with a NATO ally) to strengthen anti‑submarine and surface surveillance.
- Air‑surveillance radar and expanded drone capacity.
- A special operations unit tailored for Arctic deployment.
- Funding to recruit and retain personnel for duty in Greenland.
These measures build on the First Agreement concluded in January 2025, which financed DKK 14.6bn of initiatives including three Arctic vessels, long‑range drones and satellite-based awareness.
Undersea cable and critical infrastructure
A new North Atlantic undersea cable will strengthen digital resilience between Denmark and Greenland (with a possible link to the Faroe Islands). The project is designed to reduce vulnerability to outages and sabotage, enhance secure communications for defence, and provide co‑benefits for civilian users.
New Nuuk headquarters and local anchoring
A new headquarters for Joint Arctic Command will be established in Nuuk, meeting facility and security needs and supporting future operations. The agreement also sets the organisational framework for a new military unit under Joint Arctic Command in Greenland, increases exercise activity, and integrates a drone module into Arctic Basic Training.
An accelerated analysis of Greenlandic Rangers is due in 2026, aligning capability growth with local participation and the Kingdom of Denmark’s division of competences.
F‑35 expansion and northern airpower
In parallel, Denmark will purchase 16 additional F‑35 fighter jets for DKK 29bn (≈ €3.88bn), expanding its planned fleet to 43 aircraft. The acquisition is intended to boost air policing and rapid response across the High North and support NATO missions, complementing the Arctic package.
Implementation milestones to watch include the site selection and build‑out of the Nuuk headquarters, the procurement path for Arctic vessels and maritime patrol aircraft, and the timeline for the undersea cable. Coordination with Greenlandic and Faroese authorities will remain central as the Kingdom of Denmark scales up its Arctic defence posture.
