The Pentagon is preparing to shift military oversight of Greenland from US European Command (EUCOM) to US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), a significant administrative change reflecting President Donald Trump’s intensified focus on securing American interests in the Arctic, Politico reports.
This transfer, expected imminently, symbolically aligns the autonomous Danish territory with North American defence structures amid ongoing tensions over Trump’s ambitions to annex Greenland.
The jurisdictional shift forms part of a broader Pentagon review of the Unified Command Plan. Greenland’s geographical position—flanking the North Atlantic and Arctic—makes it critical for monitoring Russian and Chinese activities, including submarine deployments and commercial shipping through newly accessible sea routes.
Operationally, the transfer facilitates the expansion of the US Golden Dome missile shield. Placing Greenland under NORTHCOM streamlines the installation of advanced radar systems to enhance coverage against potential threats from the Arctic approaches. The island hosts Pituffik Space Base, the Pentagon’s northernmost deepwater port, which Vice President JD Vance visited in March, urging Greenland to “cut a deal” with Washington for enhanced security.
The move occurs against a backdrop of escalating friction with Denmark, which governs Greenland’s foreign and defence policy. Danish officials were not formally briefed on the pending transfer, exacerbating tensions following Trump’s repeated refusal to rule out military takeover.
Denmark attempted to placate US security concerns in January by pledging $2.1 billion for Arctic defence—including new naval vessels and satellites—but the Pentagon’s latest move effectively cleaves Greenland from Danish oversight in US military planning.
The transfer signals the Trump administration’s resolve to prioritise Arctic militarisation amid Great Power competition. As Russia modernises its Northern Fleet and China increases dual-purpose “research” voyages near Alaska, Greenland’s strategic value continues to intensify.
