OSLO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Danish Defence Command announced on Friday that "Arctic Endurance," a multinational military exercise, has begun in Greenland and is set to run until the end of 2026.
According to an official press release, over the past week, soldiers from NATO member countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Belgium have either been present or are currently in Greenland, conducting preparatory work for the drills.
The exercise aims to sustain and enhance NATO's operational capabilities and alliance cohesion in the Arctic region, the Danish Defence Command said, noting that some other NATO member states have also expressed interest in sending reconnaissance teams to Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is traveling from Brussels to Nuuk, capital of Greenland, for a meeting with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Friday, her office announced on a social media platform.
The trip comes after Frederiksen's attendance at an emergency EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier on Friday.
After her meeting with Rutte, Frederiksen said on social media that "defense and security in the Arctic is a matter for the entire alliance."
Prior to her departure, Frederiksen indicated that Denmark had "initiated work with the U.S. government," adding that details would be clarified in the coming weeks.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland. ■
