which countries and troops are actually deployed in the area

The latter maintain that Washington’s strategic concerns can be managed entirely within the current defense agreement. For now, the Trump Administration’s clearest bet continues to be the purchase of Greenland, although no analyst dares to completely rule out possible military action by the United States. Although for others it is nothing more than a “negotiating tactic.”

To try to avoid this scenario, several NATO allies have deployed small contingents in the area with the purpose of increasing pressure on Washington. That move, however, could translate into an increase in the tariffs that these countries pay.

He Arctic It has become one of the most sensitive spaces in global geopolitics. The melting of ice accelerated by climate change, the opening of new sea routes and competition for energy and mineral resources have increased its strategic value.

In this context, the main powers with a presence in the region reinforce their military capabilities, reissuing a deterrence logic reminiscent of the Cold War, although with 21st century actors and technologies.

Currently, according to the Reuters agency, eight nations have territory in the Arctic: Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Below is a summary of his military assets:

Russia

Half of the land territory of the Arctic belongs to Russia. Since 2005, Moscow has reopened and modernized dozens of Soviet-era military bases, both on its Arctic mainland and on islands off its northern coast.

Russia maintains a high level of preparedness at its nuclear test site in Novaya Zemlya, an Arctic archipelago, although it has not tested nuclear explosions since 1990. Last Octoberconducted a test launch of its Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile from there.

In the European Arctic, the Kola Peninsula hosts approximately two-thirds of Russia’s nuclear second strike capability (its ability to respond to a nuclear attack).

The area is also home to the Northern Fleetwith headquarters in Severomorsk, which operates six of Russia’s twelve nuclear-armed submarines, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The other six operate in the Pacific Fleet, based in Vladivostok.

The Northern Fleet’s only access route to the North Atlantic is the Barents Sea, between the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and the northern coast of Europe. Maintaining that free access is essential for Moscow.

USA and Canada

Since 1958, the United States and Canada have jointly defended their territories against threats, including nuclear missiles, through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Both countries are modernizing NORAD. According to the IISS, Canada is acquiring two long-range radar systems that will cover the Arctic and polar routes; the first should reach initial operating capacity in 2028.

President Trump seeks to develop a new anti-missile defense system, called Golden Domefor which he assures that Greenland is crucial.

The US maintains the Base Espacial Pituffik in northern Greenland, under a defense agreement with Denmark. The rest of its Arctic forces are distributed across eight bases in Alaska, with approximately 22,000 military personnel, according to the IISS and the US Northern Command, according to Reuters.

Canada has five Arctic bases, including Alerta signals intelligence station on Ellesmere Island, which is the northernmost inhabited settlement in the world.

Further south of the Arctic Circle, Canada operates a base in Yellowknife (Northwest Territories), which is home to a ranger patrol group and an air base.

The country is also building a facility in the Isla de Baffin to refuel maritime patrol vessels, although the project has suffered numerous delays. The US, for its part, expands existing port facilities in Nome, Alaskaaccording to the IISS.

Denmark

He Arctic Joint Command from Denmark (Joint Arctic Command) is based in Nuukthe capital of Greenland, and has about 150 military and civilian personnel.

The command also operates at the air base of Kangerlussuaqas well as four smaller military stations in eastern and northeastern Greenland, and has a liaison officer in Pituffik.

Their dog sled patrol unit, known as Siriusconducts long-range reconnaissance missions in the harsh conditions of northeastern Greenland—a unit that Trump has publicly ridiculed.

Sweden and Finland

Sweden has no bases north of the Arctic Circle, but it does have an air base in pipeon the northern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, and an army base with two regiments in Bodenabout 40 km inland.

Finland maintains an air base in Rovaniemiright on the Polar Circle, and another base of the Jaeger Brigade further north, in Finnish Lapland.

Since joining NATO, both countries have integrated their armed forces with those of the rest of the alliance.

Norway

Norway acts as NATO’s watchdog in a vast maritime area of ​​some 2 million km² of the North Atlantic, which includes parts of the Arctic.

Many of its military installations are above the Arctic Circle. It has four air bases (one for its new F-35 fighters), two naval bases, several army bases and a reception center for NATO allies in case of reinforcements or attack.

There are no military installations in Svalbardthe Norwegian Arctic archipelago.

Iceland

Iceland, a member of NATO, does not have its own armed forces, only a coast guard service.

However, it plays a key logistical role. Its air bases host rotating deployments of maritime patrol aircraft and allied fighters, guaranteeing surveillance of air and maritime space at a nerve center between North America and Europe.

Accommodates maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon of the US Navy on rotating deployments in the Keflavik Air Basecerca de Reykjavík.

NATO fighters also conduct regular rotations at Keflavik to protect Icelandic airspace. These missions usually last between two and three weeks, three times a year.