Finnish Defence Forces to participate in the Denmark-led Arctic Endurance 26

Britain’s largest warship, the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales, is being deployed again to the High North, the British Royal Navy has announced.

On board the ship are F-35 fighter jets, Merlin helicopters of the Mk2 and Mk4 types, as well as Wildcat helicopters and Malloy drones.

HMS Prince of Wales is accompanied by the British destroyer HMS Dauntless and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen.

The carrier group will participate in NATO's vigilance activity Arctic Sentry and Neptune Strike exercise series. It will also conduct phase two of the British Operation Firecrest, focusing on maintaining operational readiness and strengthening interoperability.

“The deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales and her air wing to the High North and the North Atlantic, operating under NATO leadership, is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to the Alliance and contribution to the enduring security and stability of the North Atlantic,” says Louise Sandher-Jones, British Minister for the Armed Forces.

The political parties in the Greenlandic parliament Inatsisartut support the security agreement that Greenland, Denmark and the United States entered into in September. At the same time, several of them demand better follow-up and control over compliance with the agreement, writes Sermitsiaq.

Among other things, the agreement allows the US to establish additional defense areas in Greenland and grants American forces the right of free access of Greenlandic territory, but with respect for Greenlandic society and way of life. It also states that no state other than NATO members can establish a military presence in Greenland, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) is calling for clear plans for how the agreement will be implemented and how local communities will be protected. The Greenlandic government must inform parliament about the implementation of the agreement at least once a year, the party demands.

Siumut, for its part, is calling for a follow-up group to ensure compliance with the agreement, as well as payment to Greenland for American use of land as well as cleanup at former military facilities.

Finland’s Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, has decided to usse a new decree from the Ministry of Defence regarding the use of Defence Forces vehicles.

”With the new decree, we are promoting military mobility in the changed security environment. With the reform, we will ensure that the operating conditions of the Defence Forces, traffic safety and military mobility, which is central to Finland's defence, form a functional whole,” Häkkänen said in a press release from the Ministry.

According to Yle, the reform will make it easier for Norwegian and Swedish military vehicles to enter Finland without special control measures at the border.

The same practice will also be introduced in ports and airports.

The shrimp stock and quotas for shrimp fishing have fallen significantly in the waters around Greenland, reports Greenland's broadcasting company KNR.

At Royal Greenland's factory in Sisimiut, the number of shrimp has dropped so sharply that the workforce has been reduced by nearly 50 people.

Last year, the company had 137 employees, today, that figure has fallen to between 90 and 95.

In March, factory manager Hans Lars Olsen said that operations had gone from 17 hours a day, six days a week, to 12 hours a day, four days a week.

Working hours have now been forther reduced to 10 hours a day.

Two Danish F-35 fighter jets landed in Greenland for the first time on Wednesday, at Kangerlussuaq Airport, reports KNR.

They are training alongside American F-16s and Canadian F-18s.

A Danish F-35 pilot tells the Danish Defence that Arctic conditions pose particular challenges for operations. The weather can be harsh and unpredictable, while distances between airfields are vast.

The operation is also supported by a French aerial refuelling aircraft, a Danish surveillance aircraft and a NATO AWACS aircraft.

US President Donald Trump has previously criticised Denmark for insufficient security measures in Greenland, citing threats from Russia and China.

Finland’s largest genetic research project, FinnGen, plans to expand its database to include health information on the entire Finnish population, reports Yle.

The expansion could involve data on around 7.1 million people, including diagnoses, hospital visits and laboratory results. FinnGen already holds genetic and health-related data on more than 500,000 Finns.

The plans have raised concerns about privacy and data security. Tomi Voutilainen, a professor of public law, warns that it is unclear to citizens how their data will be processed.

Yle also reports two security breaches involving FinnGen, in 2020 and 2023.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will welcome the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, to Ottawa, Ontario from September 20 to 21.

During the visit, the leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen the Canada-Norway partnership across key sectors, such as energy, critical minerals, and sovereign technology – including artificial intelligence and aerospace, a press release states.

“Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Støre will also advance Canada and Norway’s defence and security partnership. As Arctic nations and NATO Allies, they will discuss efforts to strengthen security and resilience in the Arctic and North Atlantic, modernise our defence capabilities, and bolster secure and resilient defence supply chains that support our collective security," states the press release.

“Canada and Norway are strong partners with growing ties in energy, defence, and technology. I look forward to hosting Prime Minister Støre as we deepen our economic relationship, strengthen the NATO Alliance, and create new opportunities for Canadian and Norwegian workers and businesses,” says Prime Minister Carney.

Chief of Defence Command Finland, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen visited Boden, Sweden earlier this September.

The topic of the visit was Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation (FISE), particularly from the perspective of Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF Finland).

As HNN has reported, NATO's Forward Land Force Finland (FLF Finland) was officially established during a ceremony in Boden in June 2026.

The core of NATO Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF) is a battle group in the Norrbotten Brigade, in Boden, Northern Sweden. It will be able to move rapidly to Finnish Lapland to conduct operations under a multinational staff element in Rovaniemi.

The Chief of Defence Command Finland inspected the battlegroup and met with its commander.

“The unit specialises in Arctic conditions, which is important not only to Finland but to the entire Alliance’s deterrence and defence. I was impressed, seeing the trained and motivated unit in action”, Lieutenant General Virtanen said.

“Our cooperation with Sweden has advanced steadily, which we can now see as concrete steps in operational planning and activities. I want to thank the Swedes for their commitment. Finland and Sweden are working side-by-side and we are stronger together”, he concluded.

During the visit Lieutenant General Virtanen and his hosts also had broader conversations on developing bilateral cooperation and cooperation in the High North. The conversations also included cooperation on the monitoring and safeguarding of territorial integrity, which Finland announced late August.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signed an agreement to boost internet connectivity in remote areas of northern and eastern Greenland, according to DR.

The signing took place alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the head of Greenland's government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

The project will rely on satellite-based internet, with the EU contributing approximately 9.1 million euros over five years and Denmark co-financing with 15 million DKK.

The initiative is expected to increase internet speeds from 6 to 15 megabits per second for residents in these regions, making standard streaming possible. Beyond faster internet, the expansion will enhance security by providing a backup line should the existing coastal radio network fail.

The agreement forms part of a broader EU investment package in Greenland valued at up to 200 million euros in total.

The Lapland Rescue Department in northern Finland is acquiring three new drones costing around 8,000 euros each to upgrade its equipment, according to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The new drones feature improved weather resistance, more advanced cameras, a thermal imaging camera, and automated search capabilities that allow the crew to focus on analyzing the footage rather than piloting the aircraft.

The drones are used for a wide range of tasks, from smoke detection and fire localization to searching for missing persons. Additionally, they are equipped with useful accessories such as spotlights and loudspeakers to deliver instructions during rescue operations.

As part of a new pilot project, the rescue department will also test a release mechanism that allows drones to drop self-inflating lifebuoys directly to people requiring assistance in the water.

Greenland’s healthcare system is struggling with a severe shortage of doctors and nurses and is currently heavily dependent on healthcare professionals from Denmark.

On September 1st, a new scheme was launched to make it easier for Danish healthcare workers to take on temporary assignments in Greenland. The scheme aims to replace expensive staffing agencies by offering free accommodation and a 15 percent bonus, according to DR.

So far, only 23 full-time positions have been registered through the scheme - far short of the target of 100 placements.

The initiative has also sparked debate. Greenlandic nurses have criticised the bonus scheme for their Danish colleagues, while experts point out that the initiative is only a small first step towards addressing the chronic staffing crisis.

Tourism in Finnish Lapland is growing rapidly, and tourism businesses are investing heavily to meet demand.

Apukka Resort in Rovaniemi has more than quintupled its revenue since 2022, reaching around €27 million, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.

At the same time, the tourism industry fears that such rapid growth could come at the expense of quality.

According to Harri Mällinen, CEO of Apukka Resort, a poor visitor experience could lead tourists to choose other destinations.

"That is my biggest fear right now. If the quality does not remain high, it will reduce tourists’ interest in Lapland," she told Yle.

The industry is also vulnerable to global crises. The war in the Middle East, for example, led to a decline in visitors when airports in the region were closed.

On Friday, the Greenlandic government published two expert reports on the human rights aspects of the involuntary IUD insertion of over 4,000 Greenlandic girls and women in the 1960s and 70s, known as the spiral case.

One report concludes that the Danish state's campagin of forced contraception was a violation of human rights, but not genocide. The second report considers that the question of genocide is complex and that a final decision can only be made by a court.

On the same day, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen took the initiative to establish a reconciliation commission in cooperation with the Danish government.

This proposal is welcomed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“A reconciliation commission gives us the opportunity to look back at the darkness of our common history and to deal critically with it and acknowledge the pain it may have caused,” Frederiksen states in a press release.

Greenland's head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has sharply criticized Denmark for a lack of progress in constructing new Arctic patrol vessels, reports DR.

According to him, the process has been at a standstill for over a year and a half.

"Of course, this is not satisfactory. I believe that when a decision has been made to build patrol ships because the current fleet is already old, you should expedite the process," Nielsen told DR.

The plan for five new patrol vessels was launched in 2025, but technical specifications and contract negotiations remain unresolved.

Greenlandic politicians in the Inatsisartut have also expressed frustration over the pace and are urging Denmark to get the shipbuilding underway.

Norway has eased restrictions that previously prevented allied surveillance aircraft from tracking Russian nuclear submarines operating out of bases on the Kola Peninsula, reports the Barents Observer.

The change means that allies can now operate closer to Norwegian areas than before, provided the missions are coordinated with Norwegian authorities.

The adjustment comes in response to an increased allied need for situational awareness in the Barents Sea and a more challenging security environment in the High North.

Norwegian authorities emphasize that operations will remain controlled and predictable.

Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), hosted Gen. Michael Hyldgaard, the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chief of Defence, for strategic visits to key military installations in Alaska, August 12-14.

That is stated in a press release from Alaskan Command Public Affairs.

The multi-day visit focused on combined Arctic operations, airspace defense, operational integration, and interoperability.

"Showcasing our operations in Alaska demonstrates to our Allies the benefit of the NORDIC bridge which ties the US and NATO partners to deter and defend the Northern Approaches and the Arctic as a whole," said Guillot and added:

"Cooperation in this demanding environment ensures our combined forces remain ready to defend our nations at a moment's notice."

The visit began at Eielson Air Force Base on August 13, where both leaders suited up to participate in separate flight profiles in F-16 Fighting Falcons.

On August 14, the defense leaders transitioned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for high-level bilateral discussions at Alaskan Command Headquarters. The generals also met with Alaskan defense leaders to discuss shared security challenges, the defense of Greenland, and initiatives to enhance domain awareness across the Arctic.

For the first time in recent times, conscripts have been sent to an exercise in Greenland, where they will practice and train military skills in unfamiliar terrain, participate in operational service during the Arctic Endurance exercise, and collaborate with their Greenlandic colleagues in Arctic Basic Training (Arktisk Basisuddannelse).

This is stated in a press release from the Danish Armed Forces.

Early in August, the first group of 11-month conscripts from the Schleswig Infantry Regiment landed at Nuuk Airport. For the first time, conscripts will participate in operational service during exercise Arctic Endurance, while also training and strengthening their soldier skills.

It is also the first time a team of conscripts has been deployed to Greenland.

Exercise Arctic Endurance is being conducted in close cooperation with the Greenlandic government, Naalakkersuisut. It has been decided to continue and strengthen the effort through 2026 by increasing the Danish Armed Forces' military presence and exercise activity in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. This is being done in close cooperation with several NATO allies, the Danish Armed Forces writes.

The Government of Greenland has received inquiries that cruise ships sailing in certain fjord areas are perceived as a burden on the local population and the affected natural areas. The inquiries concern, among other things, the impact on wildlife, noise pollution and the desire to preserve the areas' natural and recreational values.

This is stated by the Greenland government, Naalakkersuisut, in a press release.

In the statement, the government writes that it views positively the growing interest in Greenland as a travel destination and recognizes that cruise tourism contributes significantly to the development of the tourism industry, but also emphasizes that tourism development occurs on a sustainable basis and with respect for the local population, nature and wildlife.

Against this background, the Government of Greenland recommends that cruise ship navigation in fjord areas be avoided or limited as much as possible.

"The purpose of the recommendation is to limit the impact on vulnerable natural areas and wildlife, and to accommodate the wishes of the local population to preserve the areas' recreational values ​​and opportunities for hunting and fishing."

Statistics Greenland recently published new numbers for the population on the massive Arctic island.

According to the agency, there is a record high mid-year population.

On July 1st, 2026, 56.945 people lived in the country. That is 114 more than on April 1st this year.

20,384 people now live in Nuuk, which is 299 more than on the same day, last year.

The population statistics are based on data from the Central Population Register (CPR), which records all individuals who are officially registered as residents of Greenland at a given point in time.

"It should be noted that information about individuals who emigrate from the Kingdom of Denmark is often reported with a delay. Therefore, the number of foreign nationals in the statistics may be higher than the actual number," Statistics Greenland informs.