In military deterrence lingo, what we're witnessing in Greenland is sometimes referred to as the "glass plate" or the "tripwire." Denmark announced Wednesday that it is bolstering its troop, naval and air presence in the Arctic island in conjunction with NATO allies. The Danish Defence Ministry says it plans to deploy additional military capabilities and units for exercises that could include "guarding critical infrastructure, providing assistance to local authorities in Greenland, including the police." What is extraordinary, perhaps even unprecedented, is that it serves as message more to the U.S. than it does to Russia or China. But a handful of NATO allies, including Germany and Sweden, have signalled they're willing to send troops to Greenland as part of a bolstered presence.

Source: CBC News January 15, 2026 21:03 UTC