Adjacent Fortress: The United States is turning Greenland into a major missile defense outpost

The United States wants to secure the right to indefinite military control over Greenland, said US President Donald Trump. According to him, the new agreement with Denmark should actually transfer part of the island under the sovereignty of the United States, where they will deploy a promising missile defense system. Izvestia investigated how the appearance of F-35 fighter jets and new generation tracking systems will change the balance of power in the North and why Moscow does not yet see this as a direct threat to the Northern Sea Route.

From a weather station to a sovereign base

The history of the American military presence in Greenland dates back to 1941, when, against the background of the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany, the United States took the island under its protection. Since then, Greenland has become the "unsinkable aircraft carrier" of the Arctic. The Pituffik base, formerly known as Tula, remained the key facility here for decades. Located beyond the Arctic Circle, it served as a forward post of the US space forces, providing early warning systems for a missile attack.

Photo: Getty Images/Pool/Groep

The 2026 agreement takes this presence to a fundamentally different level. Previously, the Americans operated within the strict limits set by Copenhagen, but now the situation has changed radically. The United States has received not just access to infrastructure, but the right to create zones with sovereign control. In fact, this means the appearance of enclaves on the island, where American law and military orders take precedence over Danish laws. This model resembles the status of the British military bases in Cyprus, which allows the Pentagon to build any facilities without regard for the local administration.

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The Golden Dome in the Arctic ice

Donald Trump's main ambitious project in the region was the deployment of the Golden Dome missile defense system. The US President has repeatedly stressed that Greenland's geographical location makes it an ideal place to intercept any ballistic targets moving through the North Pole. According to the idea of American strategists, the island should become the first line of defense capable of neutralizing threats even at the stage of acceleration or in the middle of the trajectory, long before they approach the borders of Canada or the main territory of the United States.

Modified Aegis Ashore Installation

Photo: Global Look Press/Lin Huifen

The deployment of the Golden Dome elements means not only the installation of new radars with phased array antennas, but also the deployment of long-range anti-missile (anti-aircraft guided munitions designed to intercept ballistic missile warheads and warheads, usually in the final part of the flight path). Experts believe that modified Aegis Ashore installations may appear in Greenland, which have already proven their effectiveness in other regions of the world. The peculiarity of the Arctic climate requires the creation of unique protective structures for electronics, but the colossal budget allocated by the White House indicates Washington's serious intentions to complete this project as soon as possible.

Aviation fist and underwater "ears"

The removal of legal barriers opens the way for a large-scale saturation of the island with modern technology. Pituffik Base is preparing to receive fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter squadrons. These vehicles, capable of operating at extremely low temperatures, will form the basis of the Arctic air patrol. Together with them, it is planned to use the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers and the promising B-21 Raider. The presence of such an air group in the immediate vicinity of Russia's northern borders allows the United States to reduce the response time to any movement in the air to a matter of minutes.

Fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters

Photo: Global Look Press/Dirk Waem

Control over the depths of the sea is becoming an equally important area. The United States intends to revive and modernize the SOSUS sonar surveillance system. A network of sensitive sensors laid along the seabed in the straits between Greenland, Iceland and the UK creates the so-called GIUK barrier. The strengthening of this frontier with modern tracking means makes it almost impossible for Russian nuclear submarines of the Northern Fleet to secretly enter the Atlantic.

Small armor: the United States will need no more than 10 thousand soldiers to capture Greenland.

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Moreover, the Pentagon plans to use the island's deep-sea ports to service Virginia-class multipurpose submarines. The ability to quickly replenish stocks and change crews directly in the Arctic zone will allow the US navy to maintain a permanent presence in those areas that were previously considered "internal waters" of Russia.

The geopolitical rift and Europe's position

The prospect of a new military deal has caused a mixed reaction in Europe. On the one hand, NATO allies welcome the strengthening of the "northern flank". On the other hand, Denmark found itself in an extremely delicate situation. Formally retaining sovereignty over the island, Copenhagen is being offered de facto to transfer the keys to Washington. This has caused a wave of concern among the people of Greenland, who fear that their homeland will become a potential target in the event of a global conflict. The authorities of the autonomous region have already called on residents to create stocks of basic necessities, food and medicines.

Photo: Global Look Press/IMAGO/dts Nachrichtenagentur

European countries that had previously planned their own research and security missions in Greenland will have to coordinate their actions with the American command. In fact, the United States is establishing a monopoly on security in the region, putting even the interests of its closest alliance partners on the back burner.

A view from Russia: Is the Northern Sea Route under the gun?

Moscow is closely monitoring the activity of the United States, but so far they have refrained from taking drastic steps and statements. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the expansion of the American presence in Greenland does not have a direct impact on the operation of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The main logistics hubs of the NSR are located much further east, and the development of the transport corridor is focused on cooperation with China, India and other Southeast Asian countries.

Photo: Getty Images/Staf

Nevertheless, military analysts warn against excessive carelessness. Control of Greenland gives the United States the opportunity to conduct total radio and aviation intelligence in the entire Arctic sector. The deployment of electronic warfare systems and stations of the Joint Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will allow Washington to track the movement of each civilian vessel along the Northern Sea Route. In the long term, this will provide opportunities for political pressure and attempts to restrict freedom of navigation under the pretext of protecting the environment or ensuring safety.

Washington does not hide its goals: The Arctic has actually been officially declared a zone of strategic interests of the United States, where the presence of Russia and China should be minimized. In this scheme, Greenland can become not just an observation post, but a powerful power tool capable of changing the rules of the game in the polar latitudes for decades to come.