The United States plans to station a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft at Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base amid growing tensions linked to President Donald Trump’s push to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. NORAD said the deployment is part of long-scheduled activities and has been coordinated with both Denmark and Greenland.

In a statement shared on X, NORAD said the aircraft will operate alongside forces based in the continental US and Canada to support planned missions, reinforcing long-standing defense cooperation between the US, Canada, and the Kingdom of Denmark. It added that all operations have received the necessary diplomatic clearances and that the Greenland government has been informed. NORAD regularly carries out sustained and dispersed operations across its three regions: Alaska, Canada, and the continental United States.

The move comes after Denmark led a multinational military exercise in Greenland amid rising friction with Washington over Trump’s repeated threats to take control of the island. Several European countries, including Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland, sent limited military contingents to participate in the exercise, aimed at safeguarding Arctic security. Denmark had also invited the US to take part.

Meanwhile, Trump intensified his pressure on Denmark by warning of tariffs on Danish and other European goods, including from the UK, if they refuse to sell Greenland. He argued that acquiring the territory is vital for US national security, pointing to growing Chinese and Russian interest in the region. Trump said he was open to negotiations but cautioned that tariffs of 10 percent from February 1, 2026, rising to 25 percent from June 1, 2026, would be imposed if no agreement is reached, stating that it was time for Denmark to return Greenland after years of American support.