The Danish Armed Forces have launched Arctic Light 2025, a major NATO exercise that is bringing together more than 550 personnel from across the Alliance for high-intensity training in and around Greenland.
The exercise, which began on 9 September and runs until 19 September, underscores NATO’s commitment to Arctic security and the collective defence of its northern flank.
The drills combine naval, land, air and special forces elements in some of the most challenging conditions faced by Allied militaries. Denmark has deployed the frigate HDMS Niels Juel, F-16 fighter aircraft, helicopters, transport planes and Home Guard units.
France has sent a naval vessel, an MRTT tanker, and mountain infantry equipped with drones, while Sweden, Norway and Germany have contributed personnel, observers and logistical support. Together, the multinational force is conducting live-fire exercises, special operations, cold-weather warfare and sea-rescue drills to test interoperability under Arctic conditions.
Operating from Greenland highlights the logistical and environmental challenges of the High North. Danish F-16s are flying sorties from Kangerlussuaq and Pituffik Space Base, sustained by French MRTT air-to-air refuelling. These long-range operations offer vital experience in sustaining advanced fighter aircraft across vast Arctic distances, where infrastructure is sparse and weather highly unpredictable.
Civil-military cooperation is another focus of the exercise. Large-scale search and rescue drills off Greenland’s coast have tested coordination between Allied militaries and Greenlandic authorities. With climate change opening new sea lanes and driving increased economic and strategic activity in the region, such preparedness is considered critical for managing potential crises.
Is this a NATO exercise with a message to both Trump and Putin ?
99% for Trump I would think, bizarre as it would seem!
It’s a strange and bizarre world we live in.
Indeed Jonathan-scary too 🙁
Even Mrs CR said things were getting scary with recent drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace and I bet she isn’t the only one noticing that things are getting ‘a bit dicey’.
(Just thought I’d put a bit of British understatement in there for any of our allies who might be reading 🙂 )
Cheers CR
Hello CR-long time Squire-I hope you are well! I am up at 4.30 this morning and we are experiencing another outage due to a fire in a sub-station so the whole suburb and beyond are in the dark and eking out the last of our standby battery. Luckily I have a full battery in my PC so able to speak to old friends in the Motherland. Time to listen again to Harry Lauder singing “Keep right on till the end of the road” to keep the spirits afloat 🙂
All the best from the remains of ANC deleted South Africa
Kind Regards Geoff
..ANC depleted!
We are well thanks mate.
Sounds as if things are getting really bad in South Africa. I knew they were pretty grim, but what you are describing suggests it is still going in the wrong direction… So sad. So much promise as well. Nelson Mandela would be horrified at what has happened to his country!
Keep safe mate and I hope things start to turn around and improve soon for everyone. South Africa has so much potential.
Best CR
Thanks CR!
Hmmm – I wonder if any US forces took part..? Just a thought…
Nope it was a NATO exercise without a single participant from the U.S. military ( unless a few exchange personnel were involved )
Telling… very telling.
Also, interesting that the Greenlandic authorities participated in the air sea rescue elements. I wonder if they were just a little more positive towards the Danish forces this time around..?
Cheers CR
Yes independence, just to be gobbled up by a monster is not independence. I would imagine they will want to take things a lot slow and consider what true sovereign independence means..
I agree. They’re best bet is to stay close to Denmark. The Danes are not exactly proud of their colonial past so have allowed the Greenlanders a lot of autonomy, as I understand it. As such staying hooked up to Denmark gives Greenland the protection of NATO and they are going to need it.
To be frank NATO needs Greenland as well. Last thing the West needs is Russian and or Chinese troops occupying Greenland. On that point alone I agree with Trump if not his solution to the threat.
Cheers CR