Pentagon plans on altering view on Greenland
(MENAFN)
The Pentagon is preparing to reassign Greenland from the US European Command (EUCOM) to the Northern Command (NORTHCOM), signaling both symbolic and strategic changes, according to a report by Politico. While Denmark will remain under EUCOM, the reassignment of Greenland reflects its growing importance in U.S. defense strategy.
The Pentagon is preparing to reassign Greenland from the US European Command (EUCOM) to the Northern Command (NORTHCOM), signaling both symbolic and strategic changes, according to a report by Politico. While Denmark will remain under EUCOM, the reassignment of Greenland reflects its growing importance in U.S. defense strategy.
This move is part of a broader overhaul of the Unified Command Plan and is intended to prioritize Greenland more heavily in military planning at the Pentagon and the White House. One U.S. official noted that the shift makes sense geographically—Greenland lies just 26 kilometers from Canada, but over 2,000 kilometers from Denmark. However, it may cause unease among European allies due to the political implications.
Greenland, though part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is an autonomous territory and already hosts a critical U.S. military facility: Pituffik Space Base. Established in 1951, the base plays a key role in missile detection and space surveillance, and now serves as a vital link in the U.S.’s broader missile defense strategy.
Framing Greenland as a strategic outpost, U.S. leaders have argued that the reassignment is crucial to counter Russia and China’s growing presence in the Arctic. Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized the need for American leadership in the region.
The jurisdictional shift is also expected to support the expansion of the Golden Dome—an ambitious global missile defense initiative announced by former President Donald Trump. Estimated to cost hundreds of billions of dollars, the system is designed to intercept missile threats globally, including from space.
Critics, including Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, have condemned the Golden Dome plan, calling it destabilizing and dangerous. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed concern, asserting that while Russia has no aggressive intentions in the Arctic, geopolitical competition in the region is intensifying, particularly in light of U.S. plans for Greenland.
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