NORAD sent two F-16s from Alaska to Greenland to reinforce posture in the Arctic. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s interest in buying Greenland is “not a joke.”
In the last few weeks, Donald Trump has expressed interest in making Greenland part on the U.S., describing the Danish territory and world’s largest island, as an “absolutely necessity” for American security. He also didn’t rule out the use of force to persuade Denmark to hand it over.
Initially met with disbelief, the bold proposal to acquire Greenland is “not a joke,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview on Thursday, according to Reuters.
“This is not a joke,” Rubio said. “This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved.”
The latest not-so-veiled threats came while the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deployed two F-16s to Greenland, “to forward posture NORAD presence in the Arctic” after it monitored Russian military aircraft in the region.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) monitored multiple Russian military aircraft activity in the Arctic earlier this week.
The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter Alaskan or Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones or sovereign airspace. This activity is not seen as a threat.
Under its mission of maintaining comprehensive domain awareness in the Arctic, NORAD launched a combat air patrol from its Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) to the northern region of Canada, and an air patrol from its Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) off the coast of the Alaska/Yukon border, to further track the activity.
The CANR patrol consisted of two Canadian CF-18s, and one KC-135 refueling aircraft (Tanker), and the ANR patrol consisted of two U.S. F-35s, one E-3 (AWACS) and two KC-135 refueling aircraft (Tankers).
Within several hours following these launches, NORAD also sent two F-16s from Alaska to Greenland exercising its standard agreement with Greenland to forward posture NORAD presence in the Arctic. This activity is not in response to any current threat.
NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars, and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.
While the press release does not say it, the U.S. F-16s have probably deployed to the former Thule Air Base, that regularly hosts NORAD assets. Located approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in 2023 Thule Air Base received a new name, Pituffik Space Base, honoring Greenlandic heritage while aligning with its evolving role within the U.S. Space Force. The U.S. Department of Defense’s northernmost installation and a crucial outpost in the Arctic, the installation supports space-based missions, missile warning systems, and satellite tracking operations, making it an indispensable asset for the United States and its allies.
Photo: Corporal Duchesne-Beaulieu, 3 Wing Imaging
Denmark’s response
In response to U.S. President’s ambitions of annexing the Danish semi-autonomous territory of Greenland, Copenhagen also announced plans to enhance its military presence there.
Here’s what we explained in a previous post about the Danish F-35s and the plan to support QRA duties from Greenland:
Denmark has limited military capabilities on the vast island, with only four ageing inspection vessels, a Challenger surveillance plane and 12 dog sleds – a traditional form of patrol dating back to World War II used by the Royal Danish Navy. Following more than a decade of cuts in defence spending, in 2024 Denmark finally set aside $26 billion to be spent on military upgrades over ten years, some of which will be for the Arctic.
Reports quoted local broadcasters DR and TV2 about the Danish government planning to upgrade the airport in Kangerlussuaq, a former U.S. military base in western Greenland, “to support F-35 fighter jets.” Denmark has already allocated $400 million to improve aerial ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic using long-range drones.
The Danish Ministry of Defence’s Material and Procurement Agency announced on Jan. 14, 2025, that it signed an agreement with Germany to supply “F-35 deployment kits” to be used for both countries in the future. Signed in the presence of Lt. Gen. Jesper Jørgensen and his German counterpart Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, the kit “enables F-35 operations to be planned and carried out away from the aircraft’s main bases, allowing the fighter jets to be deployed at short notice for exercises and operations around the world.”
The containerized modules have been developed to be used by pilots and technicians as a space for briefings and planning sorties “under classified conditions,” maintaining the operational security. The production of the modules has just begun, says the statement, with three kits to be manufactured.
Of these, one is the one purchased by Germany and the two others are meant for Denmark. The first kit is expected to be delivered to Denmark by the end of 2025. A solution like this one could possibly be used for deployments in Greenland until the renovation works at Kangerlussuaq airport are completed, if needed.
