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Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5 MAPS

2026-01-18 15:43:10Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
Why Greenland matters to US military defense

US President Donald Trump insists that Washington should take ownership of Greenland for national security reasons. Despite opposition in the US and Europe, there is broad agreement on the strategic importance of the Arctic island in the defense of the West.

Although many Americans and Europeans believe that the US does not need to proceed with the purchase of the Arctic island to strengthen its defenses in the north, it is generally accepted that Greenland plays a crucial role in the maritime and missile defense of North America, but also throughout the North Atlantic.

Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
Greenland's location between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans

The Wall Street Journal writes that on many maps, Greenland appears distant and disproportionately large. This is partly due to the way the spherical Earth is projected onto flat cartographic representations. But when the island is shown to its exact size, it appears smaller than is usually depicted and much closer to North America, located at the center of NATO's geographic territory.

Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
Greenland is larger than California and Mexico and almost four times the size of Texas.

Even in the most realistic depictions, Greenland remains gigantic. It is larger than California and Mexico, and almost 4 times the size of Texas. But beyond its size, the island has an extremely strategic location: it is located between the parts of NATO in North America and Europe, between NATO and Russia, and on the eastern edge of the Arctic.

This geographical reality explains why the United States has repeatedly tried, for more than a century, to acquire Greenland.

Greenland is located where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean. Russian ships and submarines heading south from bases in the wider Arctic region pass through the maritime zones between Greenland, Iceland, the United Kingdom and Norway. All of these areas belong to NATO and are considered critical defensive points for the Alliance.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has increased air and naval patrols in the area.

Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
NATO and Russian bases in the Arctic

The island also plays a key role in NATO's air defense. Along the shortest air route between Moscow and Washington – an arc known as the "great circle distance" – Greenland is roughly halfway. For this reason, it is considered NATO's first line of defense in most of the Arctic.

If Russia or China were to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles against the United States, many of them are estimated to pass over Greenland. That's why the U.S. maintains a Space Force base on the island, which constantly monitors the skies for potential threats.

Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
If Russia or China were to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles against the US, many of them would pass over Greenland.

At the same time, the United States and NATO are considering installing additional missile detection equipment in Greenland and surrounding areas.

During the Cold War, the United States and its allies had military bases throughout Greenland. The forces stationed there monitored Soviet ships and submarines and were ready to defend the island in the event of an invasion or attack.

Here's why Greenland matters to US military defense: The explanation in 5
US military presence in Greenland

Today, the US military presence has been significantly reduced, with around 150 soldiers remaining on the island, a number significantly reduced from the peak of around 15,000 troops stationed in the past.

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