The first group of Danish troops assigned to Greenland has arrived in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. The deployment marks a first for conscripts as part of Denmark’s plan to strengthen its military presence in the Arctic.
Some of the troops will train in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, while others will train in Kangerlussuaq. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, became the first region where troops could train under the long-term compulsory military service regulations introduced this year.
Training in Arctic conditions
The troops sent to Greenland will take part in exercises designed to develop survival skills in challenging natural conditions. During their deployment, they will work with their Greenlandic colleagues.
New regulation extends service period
A regulation in Denmark extended compulsory military service from four to 11 months. Under the new system, troops will complete five months of basic training before serving six months in operational roles in the military, during which they will carry out actual combat missions.
Krab, a 19-year-old from Copenhagen, said he was very pleased to serve his military service in Greenland.