By Reuters | Posted by TOE

 For the first time in recent history, Danish conscripts have been deployed to Greenland, as Denmark moves to bolster its presence in the Arctic ​after U.S. demands to acquire the territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ‌repeatedly sought to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish island, citing national security concerns and accusing Copenhagen of neglecting Arctic defence. Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected the idea.

The conscripts are part of the ​first cohort under Denmark’s new extended conscription programme, aimed at producing soldiers able to ​operate in one of the kingdom’s most strategically important and challenging ⁠regions.

“It shows presence that we’re here and not just thinking of our own ​skin. And also thinking of the people in Greenland,” 19-year-old conscript David told Reuters.

Copenhagen ​has pledged billions of dollars to strengthen Arctic defences after Denmark’s defence minister acknowledged years of underinvestment in the region.

“Of course, we are a part of a bigger picture of the strategic communication ​about Greenland, but our role here is just to continue the training of ​the conscripts, the soldiers, and get more experience with the training in the Arctic terrain and ‌climate,” company ⁠commander Captain Laura Jepsen said.

The conscripts are taking part in Arctic Endurance, a Danish military exercise that trains soldiers for combat and survival in extreme cold-weather conditions.

The drill forms part of Arctic Sentry, a NATO mission launched this year to strengthen the alliance’s ​Arctic presence and ​ease tensions within NATO ⁠after Trump’s remarks about Greenland.

Russia, which maintains the Arctic’s largest military footprint, has criticised NATO’s growing activity in the region, ​describing it as a direct security threat that increases the risk ​of confrontation.

China ⁠has increased its activity in the mineral-rich region, mostly in partnership with Moscow.

Training north of the Arctic Circle, the conscripts moved through a landscape of bare rock and open ⁠expanses with ​no trees in sight.

“I think it sends a ​message that Denmark is reinforcing itself for the future,” Anton, 22, one of the conscripts, said.