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MemoMemorandumBiden · D

Presidential Memorandum

2020 Unified Command Plan

President Biden rescinded a January 13, 2021 Trump-era directive that would have reassigned Greenland from U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command in the 2020 Unified Command Plan. The memorandum directs the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress of this decision and to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 30533

Impact dates

  1. Rescind January 13, 2021 direction to draft Change 1 to 2020 Unified Command Plan reassigning Greenland from USEUCOM to USNORTHCOM

  2. Rescission of January 13, 2021 direction to draft Change 1 to 2020 Unified Command Plan

Key directives

  • Rescind January 13, 2021 direction to draft Change 1 to 2020 Unified Command Plan reassigning Greenland from USEUCOM to USNORTHCOM
  • Notify Congress of this action
  • Publish this memorandum in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Rescission of January 13, 2021 direction to draft Change 1 to 2020 Unified Command Plan
  • Greenland remains under U.S. European Command responsibility

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of Defense to notify Congress of the rescission
  • Publication of memorandum in Federal Register

Long term

  • No change to existing command structure for Greenland; continuity with pre-January 2021 Unified Command Plan

Risks & tensions

  • Rescinds final-days Trump administration directive, continuing pattern of early Biden reversals
  • Minimal substantive policy change—maintains status quo rather than initiating new policy
  • Geopolitical signaling regarding Arctic/Greenland strategy left ambiguous
Presidential Memorandum: 2020 Unified Command Plan · Executive Orders