British Forces News | Why invading Greenland would be a military nightmare

Illustrative image: Danish F-35 operating over Greenland with support from a French MRTT aerial refuelling tanker and a Danish Challenger aircraft. Photo: Rune Dyrholm / Source: Forsvaret

In a recent interview with British Forces News, Risk Intelligence CEO Hans Tino Hansen shared his insights on Arctic warfare and the challenges of sustaining military operations in Greenland’s extreme environment.

Published on 4 February 2026, the interview highlights some of the most pressing challenges facing military operations in the Arctic. Hans Tino Hansen explains that Arctic operations go beyond conventional winter warfare and require forces that are specifically trained for the region. He notes that Arctic-trained special forces could seize key nodes such as airports and communication centres, but would need to be rapidly replaced by light infantry or airborne troops.

According to Hansen, the decisive challenge is not deploying forces but sustaining operations over time. At temperatures around minus 40 degrees Celsius, logistics become critical, as oils may freeze and engines, hydraulics and mechanical systems may no longer function. He highlights Greenland’s vast distances, noting that maritime resupply from south to north can take days or even a week and increasingly requires ice-class vessels. Hansen also notes that aircraft such as the F-35 cannot operate across Greenland without aerial refuelling, making access to tanker aircraft essential.

Watch the full interview on British Forces News.

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