Trump Places Greenland Under US Northern Command
The US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), whose primary mission is homeland defense, now has Greenland as part of its area of responsibility. Here is the US space base Pituffik on Greenland's northwest coast. (Photo: JoAnne Castagna/ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Greenland is now shifted from the US European Command area of responsibility to the US Northern Command area of responsibility. The change will strengthen the defense of the US homeland and contribute to deepening relationships with Arctic allies, according to Pentagon’s chief spokesperson.
The US Northern Command is taking over command of US military operations in and around Greenland from the US European Command. The shift was initiated after an order from US President Donald Trump, as informed by the US Department of Defense last week.
"Consistent with the President's intent and the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance, this change will strengthen the Joint Force's ability to defend the U.S. homeland, contributing to a more robust defense of the western hemisphere and deepening relationships with Arctic allies and partners," states Sean Parnell, Chief Pentagon Spokesperson.
This measure takes place in connection with a review of the US command structure and may be based on military considerations. At the same time, it sparks attention due to Trump's repeated demands for US control over Greenland and the fact that he has not ruled out the use of military force to attain this.
In a recent congressional hearing, the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was asked several questions on whether the Pentagon has plans to take Greenland and Panama with force, to which he avoided a direct reply.
"Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency," said Hegseth.
Map illustrating the US geographic combatant commands before the reassignment of Greenland in the command structure. (Source: Lancer, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Could lead to increased investments
Greenland is geographically a central part of the North American Arctic and crucial to the US homeland defense. The transfer of the island to the US reflects these circumstances and enables organizational clarity on homeland defense, former US DoD Deputy Assistant Secretary Iris Ferguson comments on Linkedin.
The US has the space base Pituffik (formerly known as Thule Air Station) at Greenland's northwestern coast. It serves a significant role within missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations.
"This reassignment could elevate Greenland’s visibility in US defense planning, potentially bringing stronger investment and support for trilateral cooperation with Denmark and Greenland," Ferguson writes.
Iris Ferguson led the Pentagon office for Arctic and Global Resilience, and now works as a strategic advisor in the private sector. (Photo: Madisyn Paschal/the US Marine Corps)
Warns against sable rattling
At the same time, Ferguson is clear on what she believes the shift concerning Greenland should not entail:
"The US and Denmark (which includes Greenland) are all members of NATO. Article 1 of the NATO charter commits us to refraining from the threat or use of force. As Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) said recently, “I sure as hell hope it’s not” a signal of anything more aggressive. That’s a sentiment we should all share," she emphasizes, referring to the aforementioned congressional hearing with Hegseth.
Secondly, the measure should not entail marginalization of Denmark, underlines Ferguson.
"Denmark remains a key Arctic and NATO ally. Strategic cohesion in the region has been hard-won, and must be preserved. Reassigning Greenland should not come at the expense of trusted partnership," she states and continues:
"Shifts like this require more than internal reorganization. They require clear communication and sustained diplomacy, with Denmark, with Greenland, and with our NATO partners. Transparency and intent matter."
