Arctic Geopolitical Security: Power, Vulnerability, and the Future of Greenland

A course based on the research and field experience of Jens Marquard Sørensen

The Arctic is no longer a remote frontier. It has become one of the most strategically contested regions on Earth — and Greenland now sits at the centre of a geopolitical storm involving the United States, Europe, Russia, China, and the Nordic states.

Drawing directly on Jens Marquard Sørensen’s operational experience in the Royal Danish Navy, his Arctic sailing background, and his geopolitical analysis, this course examines the emerging security environment in the High North through a lens few others possess: the intersection of military capability, Arctic survival, hybrid warfare, and the strategic ambitions of great powers.

The course reveals how the United States is rapidly developing the capacity to seize territory in the Arctic through airborne operations, why Greenland is a potential target, and how the new U.S. security doctrine increasingly frames the European Union — not Denmark — as the strategic adversary.

It also demonstrates why the Nordic countries, not the United States, are the true major powers in Arctic warfare — and why Europe must urgently develop a collective Arctic strategy.

Key Themes

1. U.S. Military Preparations for Arctic Territorial Seizure

• The transformation of the 11th Airborne Division (“Arctic Angels”)

• Offensive doctrine: seizing airports, infrastructure, and government centres

• Large‑scale exercises (e.g., JPMRC 25‑02) simulating the capture of an Arctic nation

• Hybrid warfare patterns mirroring Russia’s pre‑invasion behaviour in Ukraine

• The role of deception, misinformation, and covert action in U.S. military history

2. Greenland as a Strategic Objective

• Why Greenland’s geography, minerals, and location matter to U.S. power

• The psychological and physical realities of Arctic warfare

• The Inuit as a resilient, autonomous population capable of prolonged resistance

• The logistical impossibility of sustaining a long war in Greenland

• The lethal combination of climate, darkness, terrain, and isolation

3. The Arctic Environment as a Battlefield

• Temperatures of –30°C, six‑month darkness, and psychological attrition

• Unmapped coastlines, collapsing icebergs, and “Dark Ice” as natural mines

• Why missiles, torpedoes, and radar fail in Arctic conditions

• Why Nordic navies — not the U.S. Navy — dominate the High North

• The North Atlantic as the world’s most dangerous sea

4. Nordic Military Power: The Real Arctic Superpower

• NORDEFCO as a combined Arctic force

• 250+ Arctic‑capable combat aircraft

• Ice‑reinforced patrol vessels, anti‑submarine frigates, and Arctic cutters

• Finland’s 800,000‑strong reserve and Arctic Jaeger brigades

• Denmark’s Sirius Patrol and the unique capabilities of Nordic forces

• Why the Nordics can operate year‑round where U.S. forces cannot

5. Europe’s Strategic Vulnerability — and the U.S. Shift

• The new U.S. security doctrine identifying the EU as an adversary

• Why Denmark cannot treat Greenland as a bilateral issue

• The need for a unified European Arctic policy

• NATO’s limitations if the U.S. becomes a strategic competitor

6. Maritime Power, Logistics, and Economic Realities

• Denmark as one of the world’s largest shipping nations

• 12% of global freight carried by Danish companies

• Maersk’s central role in U.S. military logistics

• Why a U.S.–EU conflict would collapse American supply chains

• The strategic value of merchant sailors and naval reserves

7. Denmark’s Blind Spot: The Emperor’s New Armed Forces

• Chronic underinvestment in the Royal Danish Navy

• The myth of Denmark’s strategic insignificance

• The failure to recognise Greenland’s value

• The danger of complacency in Danish intelligence and security institutions

What Participants Will Gain

• A deep understanding of Arctic warfare and geopolitics

• Insight into U.S. military doctrine and intentions

• A realistic assessment of Greenland’s vulnerabilities

• An appreciation of Nordic military superiority in Arctic conditions

• A framework for European and Danish policy responses

• Tools to analyse hybrid warfare and early warning indicators

Formats Available

• Public lecture or conference keynote

• Closed briefing for ministries, defence institutions, or intelligence services

• Tailored presentation for policymakers, Arctic stakeholders, defence companies, or investors

• Multi‑session course for universities, war colleges, or strategic studies programmes

Languages

English, Danish, Swedish, German

Pricing

Depends on audience, duration, and whether the session is public or tailored.