Denmark did not invite the US military to participate in Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in Greenland’s modern history, as NATO allies increase defense cooperation in the Arctic amid US interest in the island.

Denmark’s Arctic commander, Soren Andersen, confirmed that, while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been invited, no US military units were invited to participate, writes Reuters, the Telegraph reports.

“We work together with colleagues at the US Pituffik Space Base, but they were not invited with units for this exercise,” Andersen told Reuters.

The US has previously participated in Danish-led military exercises in Greenland.

A spokesperson at the US Embassy in Copenhagen said that “while we are not participating in this particular exercise, we continue our strong military cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark and other Arctic allies.”

Independent military analyst Hans Peter Michaelsen told Reuters that the exercise has “a strong political signal” to demonstrate Denmark’s care for Greenland with NATO allies.

“The exercise is essentially designed to show the Americans that Denmark cares about Greenland and does so with the help of other major NATO countries,” Michaelsen said.

But Andersen rejected suggestions that the exercise was intended to send a message to Washington.

Denmark has increased defense investment and military activity in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory, since comments by US President Donald Trump about buying the strategically located territory and criticism of Denmark’s efforts to defend it.

Ties between Copenhagen and Washington have deteriorated this year due to Trump’s refusal to rule out taking Greenland by force.

Arctic Light 2025, taking place from September 9 to 19, involves more than 550 soldiers, including special forces, from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway.

The exercise prepares for possible scenarios involving increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, Andersen said.

The US, which maintained 17 bases in Greenland during the Cold War, currently has a permanent presence only at Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. /Telegraph/