Heavily armed and racing across Greenland's frozen wilderness by dog sled, Denmark's elite Sirius Dog Sled Patrol endures hunger, frostbite and months of isolation in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Operating for up to five months at a time, teams conduct long-range reconnaissance missions through the frozen north, where winter brings constant darkness and temperatures plunge to -55C.
The specialist Royal Danish Navy unit could now face an unlikely adversary in US forces, should Donald Trump act on his threats to seize the mineral-rich Arctic territory. Trump has repeatedly mocked Denmark's Arctic defences, most recently ridiculing the addition of an extra dog sled patrol. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said: 'You know what Denmark did recently to boost security on Greenland? They added one more dog sled. It's true. They thought that was a great move.'
Former rear admiral Torben Orting Jorgensen, now head of Denmark's People And Security defence policy network, branded Trump's comments 'an insult of stupidity'. He told The Sun: 'The fact that Trump is laughing at an additional dog sled patrol only emphasises his ignorance about the conditions up there. They are using transport that has been adapted to this environment for centuries - now supported by drones and other modern capabilities. Trump seems to think taking Greenland would be easy. But it's vast, hostile terrain. Without the knowledge to operate there, you would face disaster.'
As the Arctic ice melts, Greenland has become a focal point for global powers eager to exploit untapped minerals, fossil fuels and emerging shipping routes. Denmark has announced a £4.8 billion military investment to protect the autonomous territory, including new radar systems, patrol ships and long-range drones. Yet in Greenland's frozen north, the Sirius Patrol remains the frontline defence. Named after Sirius, the Dog Star, the unit is the world's only dog sled special forces, patrolling where no other military can.
Each autumn, six sled teams - each made up of two naval soldiers - set out to patrol an area the size of Britain and France combined. Their missions last up to five months, with near-total isolation testing both mental and physical endurance. During a 26-month tour, patrolmen are permitted just one brief return to civilisation. The huskies emit a distinctive hissing growl when a polar bear approaches, giving soldiers time to reach for their 10mm Glock pistols or bolt-action M53 rifles. Each sled, pulled by between 11 and 15 dogs, travels an average of 19 miles a day across pack ice and rugged snowfields.
Selection for Sirius is among the toughest in the world. Recruits undergo extreme physical trials and psychological testing to ensure they can withstand prolonged solitude. Those who succeed face at least eight months of intensive training, learning everything from hunting to survival skills. The unit's history stretches back to World War Two, when its predecessors helped repel Nazi encroachment along Greenland's remote coastline.
