Belgium Deploys Troops to Greenland for NATO Arctic Mission

Belgium’s defence minister Theo Francken announced that about 30 Belgian soldiers will be sent to Greenland from 4 to 18 September. The troops will take part in a two‑week training exercise under NATO’s “Arctic Sentry” (also called “Arctic Shield”), conducting UAV flights, testing anti‑drone systems and practising operations in the island’s vast terrain.

The deployment is part of a broader NATO effort to secure strategic Arctic sea routes and resources as climate change opens new passages. Seven other NATO members – Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden – will also contribute forces to the mission. The operation follows earlier U.S. statements about the strategic importance of Greenland and includes NATO’s ongoing air‑policing of Iceland’s airspace.

Overall, the mission aims to enhance alliance presence in the High North and improve joint capabilities for surveillance and defence in the region.