A small French military contingent arrived in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, officials confirmed. Several European states, including Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK, deployed limited numbers for a reconnaissance mission. This responds to US President Donald Trump’s ongoing claim to the Arctic island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced reinforcements soon with land, air, and sea assets. Senior diplomat Olivier Poivre d’Arvor framed it as a strong political signal: “This is a first exercise… we’ll show the US that NATO is present.” France sent 15 personnel initially, hours after Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers met US Vice-President JD Vance in Washington on Wednesday.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described talks as constructive but highlighted “fundamental disagreement.” He later criticised Trump’s bid to buy Greenland.
Trump insists on acquisition
Trump reiterated Greenland’s necessity for national security during Oval Office remarks. He did not rule out force but suggested Wednesday a deal with Denmark could work. “The problem is there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do. You found that out last week with Venezuela.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that extra European troops won’t sway the president’s process or acquisition goal.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opted out of deployment but warned US military action there means “political disaster.” “A conflict or attempted annexation of the territory of a NATO member by another NATO member would be the end of the world as we know it – and which for many years guaranteed our security,” he said.
Russia’s embassy in Belgium voiced “serious concern” over Arctic events. It accused NATO of military buildup “under the false pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing.”
Symbolic Danish-led exercises
The NATO effort totals a few dozen in Danish-led Operation Arctic Endurance – heavy on symbolism, duration unclear. Finland dispatches two liaison officers for fact-finding in planning phase. “Right now we are not ruling anything out but we are not specifically considering anything,” said Janne Kuusela, defence ministry policy head. As an Arctic nation, Finland aims to bolster allied defence amid NATO grip worries on Greenland.
Germany sends 13 soldiers via A400M transport plane to Nuuk Thursday, departing Saturday.
Denmark and Greenland’s government ramped military presence around the island for NATO’s Arctic “footprint,” aiding European and transatlantic security.
Macron, in his new year armed forces address, stressed Europe’s duty to Greenland: “This territory belongs to the European Union and it’s also one of our NATO allies.” The US maintains a base there with up to 150 staff, scalable under Copenhagen pacts. The initiative signals allies’ Arctic-North Atlantic stake to Trump.
Sweden’s PM confirmed army officers arrived Nuuk Wednesday. Norway sends two soldiers, UK one officer, Netherlands one naval officer.
Downing Street echoed Trump’s High North security concerns: deployment steps up exercises against Russian aggression and Chinese activity.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen deemed Greenland defence a full NATO concern. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen envisions rotational presence, targeting permanent foreign-allied exercises and training.
Danish rebuttals
Copenhagen challenges Trump’s threat narrative. Rasmussen saw no “instant threat” from China or Russia beyond Denmark-Greenland capacity, though sharing some US worries.
A Democratic US delegation visits Denmark Friday for MP talks.
Rasmussen, post-Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio meeting, told Fox News: “The president’s ambition is on the table. Of course we have our red lines. This is 2026, you trade with people but you don’t trade people.”
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen called it a geopolitical crisis: “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.” His people would choose Denmark.
Source: BBC
Also read: Iran protests victims: Families face demands for return of bodies
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for the latest updates.
