Members of the US and Canadian Air Force actually conducted joint military training in Greenland for action in severe and cold conditions.
According to Norad, Operation Noble Defender took place from January 28th to February 11th at Pitafic Air Force Base, the northernmost facility of the US military. About 100 total service members had to operate at temperatures that would regularly drop below 0°F.
“Over the past three weeks, our integrated US and Canadian Norado team has demonstrated its ability to operate at the highest level in one of the harshest environments in the world,” Lt. Colonel Matthew Shemo said in a statement.
“I am extremely proud of them and my dedication to this mission and am grateful for the close cooperation from the Kingdom of Denmark in training for Canada and the US defense in all areas,” he added.
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The joint military exercise comes just weeks after President Donald Trump pushed the idea that the US would buy Greenland. This is an idea rejected by its current owner, Denmark.
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Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland since 2019, and has potentially called a “large real estate transaction” towards the end of his first term. In December he intensified his appeal to the United States to acquire Danish territory, calling it a national security issue.
President Donald Trump has been seeking to buy Greenland since 2019. (Fox News/Special Report)
“(f) The United States, the purpose of national security and freedoms around the world, feels that ownership and control of Greenland is absolutely necessary,” the presidential election at the time wrote in the Truth Social Post of the time.
In early February, Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen asserted that Greenland was “not for sale,” but she said she was expanding her Arctic footprint and open to the United States.
The Pituffik Space Base from the previous Thule Air Base, featuring the dome of the Thule tracking station, was depicted in northern Greenland on October 4, 2023. The base was renamed in early 2023. In particular, the base was established in December 2019 by the US Space Force, not with US Air Force people anymore. (via Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP Getty Images)
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“I fully agree with Americans that when the Arctic region talks about defense, security and deterrence, the Arctic Circle is becoming increasingly important,” Fredericksen said he refers to China and Russia’s activities in the region. “And we can find ways to ensure a stronger footprint in Greenland. They (USA) are already there and have more possibilities.”
