Netherlands prepares for possible NATO Arctic mission amid U.S. threats to Greenland

The Netherlands is preparing for a potential NATO mission to secure Greenland and the Arctic, with discussions on the deployment of Dutch marines, F-35 fighter jets, submarines, and other land units reportedly accelerating, de Telegraaf reported. The move comes as tensions rise over U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous threats to take Greenland from Denmark.

Dutch officials said the country is being considered for the mission because of its extensive experience in Arctic operations. Specialized Dutch marines train in Norway, learning survival skills, skiing, navigation, and conducting amphibious assaults—military operations in which forces move from ships or boats onto a coastline under combat conditions—under extreme cold. A source close to the cabinet told de Telegraaf that preparations are underway for a formal request from the Netherlands.

Colonel Edwin Hofma, a Dutch marine officer, highlighted the Netherlands’ unique capabilities. “Not many countries can operate under Arctic conditions. Launching combat power from amphibious ships in extreme conditions is something the Dutch do well,” he said. Last year, 1,000 Dutch personnel participated in the Joint Viking exercise with 9,000 troops from six other nations, conducted just 200 kilometers from Murmansk, where the Russian fleet, including nuclear submarines, is based.

During exercises near Norway, Dutch marines have trained to move swiftly on snowmobiles, armored vehicles, and small boats. Teams conducted seven-day survival exercises, melting snow for water, relying on dry rations, and operating at night to strike simulated targets or relay coordinates to naval ships for strikes. These drills aim to make any Russian advance in the region challenging.

Dutch surface ships and submarines also operate in the Arctic. Last summer, the NATO fleet under Dutch command trained in the icy Barents Sea. Commanders noted that crews had to manage freezing surface water and ice accumulation on ships, which can destabilize vessels. Commander Arjan Warnaar of the flagship Zr. Ms De Ruyter said Russian forces closely monitored the exercises, with a Russian patrol plane flying overhead, but described the contact as “completely professional.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has expressed support for a NATO-led effort to protect the Arctic. Dutch air defense and submarines could play a role, though no final decisions have been made.

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs David van Weel said the Netherlands views a contribution positively. “This is a way to contribute to a bit of easing in the relationship we value so highly, namely that between the United States and the European NATO allies,” he told the Tweede Kamer. He emphasized that Greenland’s territorial integrity and Denmark’s sovereignty are non-negotiable.

The debate in parliament included a motion by CDA member Derk Boswijk, supported by eleven other parties, urging the government to “politically and diplomatically support Denmark regarding the status and position of Greenland.”