Greenland is located at the northern edge of the Arctic Circle and occupies a highly strategic geographic location. Its high latitude provides for early warning of missile launches from adversaries like Russia. Greenland forms the western component of the Greenland-Iceland-United-Kingdom (GUIK) Gap, a critical maritime chokepoint for monitoring surface and sub-surface naval activities in the North Atlantic. Its position in the Arctic Circle gives it access to the Arctic passages of commercial shipping and military vessels. With the continued change in the earth’s climate the Arctic region is providing more access to potential natural resources – minerals, natural gas, and oil. These geographic and environmental factors contribute to Greenland’s strategic relevance in the competition involving the major powers of the United States, Russia, and China.
About Greenland. The world’s largest island, Greenland covers more than 836,000 square miles. Located off the northeastern coast of Canada, Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. 80% of Greenland lies above the Arctic Circle. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It gained home rule in 1979 and expanded self-government in 2009. There are about 56,000 inhabitants of Greenland; mostly Inuit people (Wikipedia).
Early Warning of Missile Attack
In World War II the island provided sites that assisted in monitoring the weather and support the passage of vessels carrying men and equipment to the European theater. Early in the Cold War the radar sites on Greenland would provide warning of Soviet Union Bear bombers approaching. Later, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) became a factor and Greenland’s early warning capability became even more important. Radar stations in Greenland provided an early detection of bombers and incoming missiles traveling toward the United States. The Distant Early Warning (DEW) line with NORAD support was key to providing early warning of potential missile and bomber attacks.
The early warning systems (spaceforce.mil) can detect and track ICBMs and Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) in their early flight stages. This provides crucial seconds of warning for defense systems when integrated into other U.S.-NATO systems. Warning data is instantly flashed to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the missile warning center in Colorado.
GIUK Gap
An important aspect of Greenland is the way that it anchors the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom) Gap. Between these three landmasses in the North Atlantic lie the avenue of approach for surface and submarine warships into the Atlantic Ocean. These two gaps are constantly monitored to track the movement of Russian surface vessels and subs.
This vital maritime transit route connects the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. This gateway forces the Russian Northern Fleet – surface and submarines – to pass through a constricted area that can be monitored by satellite, air, and naval assets. With the conclusion of the Cold War the importance of the GIUK Gap as a strategic maritime approach has diminished; but now with the new era of great power competition it has renewed strategic interest, along with other broader NATO naval and anti-submarine warfare priorities.
Arctic Shipping Lanes
The commercial shipping lanes in the Arctic Circle are opening up due to climate change and the ice receding. The region has become much more navigable for world trade for longer periods of the year. China also benefits from using the northern routes as the transit from Asia to Europe is quicker and has less fuel costs. China plans to use the Arctic region as its “Polar Silk Road”; its interest focused on commercial research-oriented activities, not naval deployment in Greenland’s vicinity. Freedom of navigation in the Arctic is an important economic factor in the world economic framework.
These northern passages are especially important for Russia’s navy. It has limited access to the Atlantic Ocean. There are NATO choke points in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea regions. A U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard presence in Greenland can assist in the securing of the Northwest Passage. It also puts U.S. maritime forces and air force assets closer to the Northern Sea Route. (Map – CIA)
Access to Natural Resources
With a melting ice cap the Arctic Circle is providing more access to rare minerals, natural gas, and oil deposits. From a strategic economic standpoint – control and exploitation of these resources are of great importance. Greenland ranks eighth in the world for rare earth reserves to include large amounts of rare earth deposits (CSIS). [1] Moderate exploration of precious metals and base metal is taking place in Greenland; with the potential for world-class deposits of chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, and other metals. [2] While Greenland has significant mineral potential, commercial viability is long-term and uncertain.
In addition, the entire Arctic region has emerged as a renewed area of strategic competition (SOF News) in recent years between the United States and Russia. In addition, China has been increasing its presence in the Arctic as well; increasing maritime shipping through the shipping lanes that provide a shorter transit route – saving time and fuel. Global warming and climate change has opened up the Arctic sea lanes, exposed minerals for exploitation, and provides access to oil and gas reserves. The Arctic is estimated to hold 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 percent of the world’s natural gas.
A Question of U.S. National Security
From a strategic security perspective, Greenland is an important part of U.S. security. The United States has access to the Pituffik Space Base (spaceforce.mil), located in the northwest of the island, which provides the U.S. the capability for missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance. This was formerly known as Thule Air Base. Greenland – in addition to NATO allies – provides early warnings of a strike from over the Arctic Circle.
Pituffik Space Base is currently the only U.S. military base in Greenland. (NPR, March 26, 2025) Pituffik operates today through mutual defense agreements between the U.S. and Denmark. It was previously known as Thule Air Base. Pituffik was built after the U.S. and Denmark signed the Defense of Greenland Treaty in 1951. The installation was renamed in 2023 to recognize Greenland’s cultural heritage as well as recognize the importance that Space Command has on the island. Currently there are about 150 U.S. personnel on the base; according to some online sources there is room for 12,000 personnel.
Image: Radar system at Thule Air Base, Greenland, one of several that scan the skies for foreign military rockets, missiles, and aircraft. Photo by JoAnne Castagna, U.S. Army.
U.S. Presence. The U.S. military footprint in Greenland has fluctuated over time. During World War II there were an estimated 5,000 – 10,000 personnel on airfields, weather stations, and naval bases associated with North Atlantic convoy protection. The occupation by U.S. troops ensured that the island didn’t fall into the hands of Germany. At the height of the Cold War the U.S. had about seventeen military installations in Greenland with about 15,000 personnel. When the Cold War ended the U.S. presence diminished significantly. All U.S. military bases and installations are now closed except for the Pituffik Space Base. As of early 2026 there are only approximately 150 personnel at Pituffik.
Cold War 2.0. In this era of strategic competition the importance of Greenland has grown. The ICBM and SLBM threat from Russia is still a huge concern and the early warning that Greenland provides is a key factor. The GIUK Gap remains important – Russia’s submarines remain a threat to U.S. and NATO naval forces as well as commercial shipping. With climate change the passage of vessels can take place for longer periods of time each year. In addition, as the ice cap melts new natural resources are becoming available. A strong U.S. presence in the Arctic Circle – to include Greenland – will ensure America’s interests are protected, freedom of navigation is not interfered with, and will ensure that the U.S. can project power into the Arctic region as well as protect the homeland.
**********
Images: Unless otherwise noted, any images with maps are derived from maps by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Endnotes:
[1] View maps of Greenland geology, raw material deposits, and mineral occurrences by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. https://www.greenmin.gl/raw-materials-maps/
[2] Geology and Nonfuel Mineral Deposits of Greenland, Europe, Russia, and Northern Central Asia, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 2005, PDF, 182 pgs.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1294/d/of2005-1294d.pdf
References:
“Arctic Security”, National-Security.info. This resource is a product of SOF News. The web page links to over 30 news articles and documents concerning Arctic security – many of them SOF related.
https://www.national-security.info/topics/arctic-security.html
