Greenland “Absolutely Critical” For Hunting Russian Submarines: Top U.S. General In Europe
Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the top U.S. general in Europe, testified that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security.
Howard Altman
Published Apr 3, 2025 7:36 PM EDT
A top U.S. general testified before Congress that Greenland is hugely important to U.S. national security because it is a key landmass for tracking Russian nuclear submarines.
As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to seek control of Greenland, the top U.S. military commander in Europe said the massive island is vital to America’s national security. The main issue, he said, is that Greenland’s geographic location makes it a key landmass from which to track Russian submarines before they have a chance to disappear into the Atlantic Ocean and potentially endanger the East Coast. You can read more about the strategic importance of Greenland in our deep dive here.
“Access to the airspace and water space found in Greenland is absolutely critical for the United States,” said U.S. Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of U.S. European Command. Cavoli addressed the security value of Greenland during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Asked about the frigid island, Cavoli made it clear he was talking about the military value of it and not the Trump administration’s policy of trying to assume Greenland from Denmark.
“The key there is it forms the western border of the Greenland, Iceland, UK (GIUK) gap, which is that body of water through which Russian submarines from the Northern Fleet in Murmansk come up and then down through that gap,” Cavoli stated. Murmansk is home to some of Russia’s most capable submarines, like the Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying Kazan.
https://www.twz.com/sea/greenland-absolutely-critical-for-hunting-russian-submarines-top-u-s-general-in-europe
