Berlin Trains with the Danish Armed Forces in North America and the Arctic
The 175-metre-long German supply ship Berlin began the week in Nuuk with a delegation led by Germany’s Deputy Minister of Defence. The ship now joins Danish, French, and Canadian vessels to train NATO allies in defending North America.
August 21, 2025 - 15:45
Berlin – one of the German Navy’s largest assets – stopped in Nuuk earlier this week before continuing to the Canadian exercise Frontier Sentinel 2025. The exercise aims to strengthen NATO cooperation in defending North America.
By the Danish Defence Command
The supply ship Berlin’s visit to Greenland earlier this week is historic, marking the first time a German military vessel of Berlin’s size has docked in Nuuk. Berlin is one of the largest ships in the German Navy, measuring approximately 175 metres in length, and features a floating hospital, two helicopters, and fuel tanks with capacity for several million litres of fuel.
In addition to Berlin, a German delegation led by Deputy Minister of Defence Dr Nils Schmid visited Greenland earlier in the week to highlight NATO unity regarding security in the Arctic.
During the German visit to Nuuk, Chief of Defence General Michael Hyldgaard met with Chief of the German Navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, for discussions on Arctic cooperation. Photo: Danisk Armed Forces
“Since the founding of the NATO alliance, Denmark has cooperated militarily with our allies on the security of Greenland and the alliance. This visit underlines that Germany places high priority on this cooperation,” said Major General Søren Andersen, head of the Danish Joint Arctic Command, who accompanied the German delegation during the visit.
On Monday, the German delegation took part in meetings in Nuuk with, among others, Naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and Chief of Defence Michael Hyldgaard. The visit included a press conference and tours of the Danish inspection vessel Triton and the German ship Berlin.
The German delegation visited Greenlandic students from the Arctic Basic Training programme during a shooting exercise in Kangerlussuaq on Tuesday. Photo: Danish Armed Forces
On Tuesday, the German delegation continued to Kangerlussuaq, where they met Greenlandic students from the Arctic Basic Training programme at a shooting range. The delegation was also introduced to the Danish Armed Forces’ facilities in Kangerlussuaq before departing via German military aircraft from Kangerlussuaq Airport.
NATO Countries United in Defence of North America and the Arctic
After its visit to Nuuk, Berlin began sailing westward on Tuesday, where it will act as an "enemy ship" in Canadian waters during the Frontier Sentinel 2025 exercise. This drill trains NATO allies in defending North America against hybrid threats.
The exercise is part of the Canadian Operation Nanook Tuugaalik 2025, which includes the Danish inspection vessel Lauge Koch, the French support ship Garonne, the Canadian patrol vessel William Hall, and other Canadian units.
The Danish inspection vessel Lauge Koch departed from Halifax, Canada, on 18 August, kicking off participation in Operation Nanook Tuugaalik 2025 together with the French support vessel Garonne and Canadian patrol vessel William Hall. Photo: USCG ENSIGN Sydney Stephens
The operation began with a departure from Halifax on 18 August, after which the ships head north to train in Canada's Arctic regions and Greenlandic waters. On the return journey, the Canadian and French ships will dock in Nuuk from 29 to 31 August and will hold a public open ship event on 30 August together with Lauge Koch.