Arctic Shield 2026: 400 Troops From 10 NATO Nations, Including US Fighter Operations, Exercise in Greenland

NATO's Arctic Shield 2026 exercise, running September 7–18 in southern Greenland around Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, brought together roughly 400 soldiers, sailors and airmen from 10 NATO nations — Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland — training under Arctic conditions as part of the broader Arctic Sentry initiative to harden NATO's northern flank. Activities included French and Dutch marines training in Greenland's fjord systems, a Belgian drone unit, Finnish and Danish special operations forces, and fighter-aircraft operations over Iceland, Greenland and Canada involving the United States alongside Denmark and Canada. Joint Arctic Command chief Rear Admiral Søren Andersen said regular exercises are necessary for allied forces to operate effectively in Arctic conditions, with the goal of making NATO's northern flank 'a hard target.' Coverage of the drill noted the backdrop of President Trump's repeated demands for American control of Greenland, but stressed that day-to-day cooperation between Danish and US military personnel in the Arctic remains close, with officials identifying Russia — not the United States — as the alliance's primary long-term challenge in the theater.