Meet the brutal war dogs of Greenland, ready to face the American invasion

The patrol, made up of two-man teams that travel by dogsled for up to five months, has become a flashpoint after 79-year-old Trump repeatedly questioned Denmark’s ability to defend the vast island against Russia and China, raising fears in Copenhagen over US intentions to invade the island to fever pitch.

Trump recently mocked the patrol while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, saying, “You know what Denmark did recently to increase security in Greenland? They added another dog sled. That’s true. They thought that was a great move.”

His comments were intended to underline his view that Denmark’s defenses are inadequate to protect Greenland from Russian or Chinese advances.

But his damning assessment has been sharply rejected by Torben Orting Jorgensen, a former Danish vice admiral who now heads the People And Security defense policy network.

He said the comments revealed a lack of understanding about the Arctic war.

“The fact that Trump is laughing about an additional dog sled patrol only highlights his ignorance of the conditions in that area,” Jorgensen said.

“They use a means of transport that has been adapted to the conditions up there for centuries, and we are expanding that with drones and other facilities.”

He added that the environment itself was Greenland’s greatest defense.

“Trump believes it is a piece of cake to take an island like Greenland. But it is a large, unfriendly environment and if you have absolutely no knowledge of how to operate there, you will only face disaster,” Jorgensen warned.

Founded during World War II to counter Nazi weather stations along the coast of Greenland, the Sirius Patrol has a history rooted in survival rather than spectacle.

Its members endure temperatures that can drop to minus 55°C, subsist on canned food, sleep in tents or remote huts and rely on Greenland huskies trained to sniff out both polar bears and intruders.

Armed with rifles and pistols, the patrol operates in terrain that is impassable for modern military vehicles.

The Arctic’s increasing melt has increased interest in the region, prompting Denmark to announce a $6.5 billion military package for Greenland, including new radar, patrol ships and long-range drones.

Still, Danish officials acknowledge that in the far north, dog sled teams remain the first line of defense.

Kristian Kristensen, a senior researcher at the University of Copenhagen’s Center for Military Studies, said Denmark’s armed forces are built for extremes.

“They are versatile and can operate virtually anywhere, from the Arctic to the Gulf of Guinea,” he said, noting that the Sirius Patrol’s mandate is clear.

A defense source told us: ‘As Trump continues to insist he is about to take full control of Greenland, Denmark’s Arctic soldiers are preparing as they always have, moving quietly across the ice with their dogs, armed to the teeth – and ready for whatever comes over the frozen horizon.’