‘The success should ultimately be measured by the military effects it enables, not by the military footprint it creates’
By Liselotte Odgaard, Real Clear Wire
The new U.S.-Greenland-Kingdom of Denmark agreement offers an opportunity to strengthen Arctic deterrence through distributed capabilities, resilient networks, and coalition capability alignment.
Executive Summary
The security agreement signed by the United States, Greenland, and the Kingdom of Denmark on September 22, 2026, creates an important opportunity to strengthen Arctic security. Its significance lies not primarily in expanded U.S. access or military presence, but in its potential to support a new approach to Arctic defense based on distributed capabilities, resilient networks, and coalition capability alignment.
The Arctic is becoming increasingly contested because of growing Russian military activity, expanding Chinese engagement, and the strategic consequences of climate change. At the same time, long-range precision strike systems, persistent surveillance, cyber operations, and electronic warfare are increasing the vulnerability of concentrated forces and fixed infrastructure.
As a result, traditional approaches centered on large platforms, major bases and permanent force presence are becoming less effective. Arctic deterrence should instead focus on denial: the ability to prevent an adversary from achieving military objectives quickly, easily, or at acceptable cost.
This brief argues that Arctic allies should align capabilities rather than pursue deeper force integration. Effective Arctic defense depends on generating three operational effects:
- Persistent awareness
- Distributed denial
- Operational resilience
The new U.S.–Greenland–Kingdom of Denmark agreement provides a practical framework for advancing this approach. Its success should be measured not by the number of troops deployed or facilities constructed, but by whether it enables: