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Danish conscripts take part in military exercises near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on August 28 local time. / Reuters, Yonhap

Denmark has deployed conscripts to its autonomous territory of Greenland for the first time in history to bolster security capabilities in the strategically vital Arctic region, Reuters reported on the 2nd local time.

The deployment comes as part of a new service-extension program introduced by the Danish government, with selected conscripts participating in military exercises designed to build survival and combat capabilities in Arctic terrain and extreme cold weather conditions.

The training is being conducted under "Arctic Sentry," a broader NATO operation. The alliance has recently expanded its presence across the Arctic Ocean to assess and reinforce its collective defense posture.

Captain Laura Jepsen, a commander on the ground, stated, "Our role here is to continue training conscripts and soldiers and to gain more training experience in Arctic terrain and climate."

Interest surrounding Greenland's diplomatic and security posture has surged dramatically in recent years.

U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly raised the prospect of acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns and Arctic defense burden-sharing, though both Denmark and Greenland's self-governing administration strongly pushed back.

Tensions involving other major powers around the Arctic Circle also persist.

Russia, which maintains the largest military presence in the Arctic region, condemned NATO's expanding footprint, describing it as a direct security threat that elevates the risk of military conflict.

China, seeking access to mineral resources and Arctic shipping lanes, is also gradually broadening its presence in the region through cooperation with Russia.

The Danish Ministry of Defense acknowledged past underinvestment in Arctic defense and plans to allocate billions of dollars to its Arctic defense budget, according to Reuters.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun