NATO officially activated Operation Arctic Sentry on February 11, 2026, coordinating allied military activities—including Denmark’s Arctic Endurance exercises—in Greenland and the High North to bolster surveillance and security, primarily as a symbolic response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s January threats to acquire or control the Danish territory.
The mission, described by diplomats as a rebranding effort to appease Washington without direct confrontation, follows Trump’s Davos backdown on force and tariffs, shifting focus to diplomatic talks; Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt called ongoing U.S. discussions “positive but uncertain,” while Denmark’s officials emphasize progress without a final solution, amid European allies (Canada opening a consulate in Nuuk) reinforcing ties.
Supporting details include U.S. senators visiting Nuuk to stress partnership over annexation, increased Danish troop contributions (F-35s, P-8 aircraft), and warnings from Russia/China interests; no major escalation, but the crisis exposed NATO gaps and hardened European views of U.S. reliability.
For deeper readers: Polls show overwhelming Greenlandic opposition to U.S. integration, protests continue in Denmark, and experts view the operation as addressing Arctic resource/missile defense priorities without altering sovereignty.
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