The Arctic and North Atlantic

Security Policy has changed 

The geopolitical situation in the Artic and North Atlantic is changing rapidly. Through new agreements Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland has responded to the intensified situation. 

The Government and the parties behind the 2024-2033 Defence Agreement has in close cooperation with the Government of the Faroe Islands and Greenland’s Naalakkersuisut decided two agreements on the Arctic and North Atlantic of over 6,5 billion dollars in 2025. 

Stronger defence and security

With two new agreements in 2025 Danmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland are significantly strengthening defence and security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

 

• First agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic 2025
• Second agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic 2025

Capabilities such as three new Arctic naval vessels, further long-range drones and satellites are some of the initiatives covered by the first agreement of January 27, 2025. Photo: Danish Armed Forces.

The second agreement of October 10, 2025 involves a range of defence acquisitions to further strengthen the operational effectiveness of the Danish Armed Forces in the region. Photo: Danish Armed Forces.

Major investments in the Arctic and the North Atlantic 

First Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic was made in January 2025. The agreement invests 2,2 billion dollars in capabilities like Arctic patrol vessels, long-range drones and satellite capacity. 

Second Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic was made in october 2025 and includes investments of 4,2 billion dollars. In addition to continuing investments in several capabilities such as Arctic spatrol vessels and maritime patrol aircraft, Agreement 2 also includes a general strengthening of the Danish Armed Forces' presence in the Arctic. 

In addition, there are other agreements on investment in capacities, including air refueling capacity and F-35 aircraft, which are relevant to the task of solving the Arctic and North Atlantic. In total, investments of relevance to the Arctic and North Atlantic have been made for 13,7 billion dollars in 2025.

Overview of the defence agreements in 2025 on the Arctic and North Atlantic.

The Danish Defence increases its activity in the region

The Danish Defence is continuously present in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. In close coordination with the Greenland Government and allies the Danish Defence has increased its activities during 2025 with deployed capabilities at sea, on land and in the air in several locations in Greenland.

Read more about The Danish Defence activity: Increased military presence in the Arctic 

The Danish Armed Forces' tasks in the Arctic and the North Atlantic

The activities of the Armed Forces in and around Greenland and the Faroe Islands are led by the Arctic Command. The Arctic Command has headquarters in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, and a liaison element in Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.

The Arctic Command has operational responsibility for the Armed Forces units deployed in the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The units consist of, among other things, inspection ships and vessels, aircraft, helicopters and the SIRIUS sled patrol.

The primary tasks of the Danish Armed Forces in and around the Faroe Islands and Greenland are primarily maritime surveillance, sovereignty assertion and support for NATO and allied task performance within deterrence and defence in the region.

In Greenland, the Danish Armed Forces also carry out a number of tasks in support of civil society - including search and rescue services, sea surveying, marine environmental monitoring and pollution control. These tasks are carried out in close cooperation with Greenlandic authorities.

The Kingdom wishes that development and challenges in the Arctic should be managed on the basis of international legal principles, including the principle of territorial sovereignty, in order to ensure a peaceful, secure and cooperative Arctic.