US sends aircraft to Greenland base amid tensions over Trump's takeover bid

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The US military will deploy aircraft to Greenland's Pituffik Space Base as tensions escalate over President Donald Trump's push to acquire the self-governing Danish territory, the North American Aerospace Defense Command announced Monday.

"North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland," the joint US-Canadian defense organization said on US social media company X.

NORAD described the deployment as part of various long-planned activities that build on defense cooperation between the US, Canada, and Denmark.

The command emphasized the deployment is coordinated with Denmark and that all forces are operating with proper diplomatic clearances. Greenland has been informed of the planned operations, it added.

The aircraft will support routine dispersed operations defending North America, the command said.

Pituffik Space Base, previously called Thule Air Force Base, serves as a US military installation and communications hub in northwestern Greenland, operating a missile warning system.

Some analysts argue that there is no convincing rationale for the US to have to take over Greenland, as it can already defend the territory through existing defense agreements such as the one including NORAD.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark's kingdom, has drawn Trump’s interest due to its strategic Arctic location, vast mineral deposits, and alleged concerns about a growing Russian and Chinese presence.

Both Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any proposal to transfer the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.