The US military intends to de-link the Arctic island from Denmark, the country to which it belongs
The Pentagon is preparing to make a “symbolic and operational split” between Greenland and Denmark by reassigning the Arctic island’s command jurisdiction, Politico has reported.
Greenland would thus be moved from the European Command (EUCOM) to the Northern Command (NORTHCOM), whereas Denmark would remain in the former, according to the outlet.
The change, which is part of a broader review of the Unified Command Plan, would elevate Greenland’s priority in defense planning at the Pentagon and White House. “From the perspective of geography, the move makes some sense,” one official told Politico. “From a political perspective, however, this clearly is going to worry Europe.”
Greenland, an autonomous territory within Denmark, is geographically closer to North America than to Europe – just 26 kilometers from Canada, but over 2,000 from Denmark.
The US already maintains a major military outpost at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which was established in 1951 under a Cold War-era agreement. The base supports missile tracking and space surveillance, and now serves as a key node in Washington’s expanding missile defense ambitions.
Framing Greenland as a strategic asset, US officials have justified the shift as necessary to counter rival powers. “We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic,” Vice President J.D. Vance previously said, citing Russian and Chinese activity.
According to Politico, the reassignment would also support expansion of the Golden Dome — a global missile shield announced by President Donald Trump last month and estimated to cost hundreds of billions of dollars. The system would aim to intercept threats from anywhere on Earth or space.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has called the initiative a “reckless approach” that undermines global stability.
In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Arctic holds vast potential for trade and resource extraction. While stressing that “Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic,” he warned that geopolitical rivalry in the region is escalating, citing Washington’s “serious plans regarding Greenland.”
