What Denmark’s Arctic Command ships are really doing in Greenland
Greenland’s national broadcaster, KNR, recently published an in-depth story examining the purpose and operations of the Arctic Command’s naval presence in Greenland — a subject often overlooked despite the growing geopolitical focus on the Arctic.
The familiar grey inspection ships, often seen gliding through Greenland’s fjords and hugging its vast coastline, are far more than symbolic markers of sovereignty. As KNR reports, these vessels are part of Denmark’s broader military infrastructure in the Arctic, tasked with everything from surveillance and search-and-rescue to oil spill response and fisheries inspections.
A long history
Military operations in Greenland have long involved expeditions, mapping, and policing of territorial waters. Today, the Arctic Command — headquartered in Nuuk since 2012 — maintains a year-round presence in the region via four Thetis-class inspection ships: Thetis, Triton, Hvidbjørnen, and Vædderen.
Though armed with cannons and machine guns, these ships are not currently used in combat. Instead, they focus on core peacetime responsibilities: maintaining Danish sovereignty, conducting maritime patrols, and assisting civil authorities.
Responding to a changing Arctic
While Greenland is still widely regarded as a “low-tension” region, that status is increasingly under strain. The war in Ukraine and provocative moments like former U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to buy Greenland have added urgency to defense discussions.
Greenlandic and Danish authorities are currently negotiating a new defense agreement that includes upgrading the naval fleet, with three new ships expected to replace the aging inspection vessels. Alongside this, the summer of 2025 will see a heightened Danish military presence in Greenland, according to announcements from Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
From tourists to oil spills: expanding missions
As Commander Peter Krogh of Vædderen explains, the Navy’s role in Greenland is multifaceted. One growing area of responsibility involves assisting tourists, particularly from cruise ships and remote expeditions. The Navy also supports Greenland’s police in search-and-rescue operations, often using Seahawk helicopters to extract people from sea or rugged terrain.
Since 2020, Arctic Command has also trained in oil spill mitigation, a task expected to become more important as commercial activity in the region expands.
Uncertain future
Despite increasing military investment, Krogh remains cautious about predicting the future of Greenland’s defense role.
“You never know how the world will change. Being prepared — that’s the best we can do,” he told KNR.
With a multi-billion-kroner investment in the Arctic fleet on the horizon and international interest in Greenland rising, the Arctic Command’s role will likely become even more critical — not only for Greenland, but for the strategic posture of the entire North Atlantic region.
