North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon be in Greenland for “long-planned” activities, even as President Trump pushes for U.S. control of the Arctic territory.
Along with aircraft operating from bases in the U.S. and Canada, NORAD aircraft at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, will “support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring defense cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” according to a statement shared to the social platform X.
“This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces operate with the requisite diplomatic clearances. The Government of Greenland is also informed of planned activities,” NORAD said, noting that it “routinely conducts” operations for North American defense.
The announcement, which stresses the defense command’s cooperation with Denmark and Greenland, comes as Trump pushes for the U.S. to take control of the mineral-rich territory to help advance U.S. national security.
Despite opposition from European allies, Trump this week announced plans to implement 10 percent tariffs on goods from eight European countries as part of his bid to acquire the semiautonomous territory. He has cited the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize last year as the reason he “no longer feel[s] an obligation to think purely of Peace.”