The Danish military has released footage showing its advanced F-35 fighter jets conducting a complex air-to-air refuelling exercise with a French tanker aircraft over the skies of southeast Greenland. The training mission, carried out on Friday, underscores a concerted push by European allies to bolster their operational readiness in the strategically vital and harsh Arctic region.
Allied Arctic Operations Intensify
According to the Danish Armed Forces, the primary focus of the mission was on long-distance flying and operating safely in extreme polar conditions. The French MRTT tanker aircraft undertook a significant journey for the drill, departing from its base in southern France and returning there after completing the training over Greenland. This exercise is part of a broader pattern of stepped-up Arctic military cooperation among European nations.
The display of allied capability comes against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension concerning Greenland's future. Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland is vital to US national security, citing its strategic location and vast mineral resources. He has not ruled out the use of force to acquire the autonomous Danish territory and has recently warned that the US might withdraw from NATO if allies do not support its acquisition.
Congressional Delegation Seeks to 'Lower the Temperature'
In a direct response to the escalating rhetoric from Washington, a bipartisan delegation of 11 US lawmakers travelled to Copenhagen on Friday. Their mission was to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen to offer assurances of congressional support and distance themselves from Trump's threats.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told reporters, "We are showing bipartisan solidarity with the people of this country and with Greenland. They've been our friends and allies for decades... the statements being made by the president do not reflect what the American people feel." The delegation's visit followed a meeting in Washington where Danish officials expressed being in 'fundamental disagreement' with Trump over Greenland.
European Troops Deploy as Denmark Fortifies Position
Further solidifying the European stance, several NATO members—including Britain, France, Germany, and the Nordic states—announced this week the deployment of small numbers of military personnel to Greenland at Denmark's request. In Greenland's capital, Nuuk, military presence was more visible, days after Denmark confirmed it was strengthening defences on the island.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the impact of the European troop movements, stating they would not affect the president's goal. However, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen was unequivocal, retorting that a US acquisition of Greenland was 'out of the question'.
In Nuuk, residents welcomed the show of international support. A 39-year-old union representative, speaking anonymously, said, "Congress would never approve of a military action in Greenland. It's just one idiot speaking... If people in Congress want to save their own democracy, they have to step up." The situation continues to develop, with the Arctic becoming an increasingly focal point for both military preparedness and diplomatic manoeuvring.
