Several European countries have sent troops to Greenland in support for Denmark amid a growing dispute with the US over the Arctic island.
The move follows a high-stakes meeting in Washington on Wednesday, where a “fundamental disagreement” emerged after US President Donald Trump reiterated his ambition to acquire Greenland, refusing to rule out military force.
Enhanced European Presence
In a show of European support to Greenland, a group of European countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Norway and Sweden, announced they would contribute troops to a multinational force led by Denmark.
This force will lead to “an increased military presence in and around Greenland, comprising aircraft, vessels and soldiers, including from NATO allies,” according to a statement by the Danish Defense Ministry.
Troops Arrive in Greenland
On Thursday, France, Germany, the UK, Norway and Sweden, began deploying symbolic numbers of troops or promised to do so in the coming days, in a show of support for Denmark.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced the arrival of a team of French military personnel, saying that more land, air and naval assets will arrive soon to join a military exercise in Greenland.
Moreover, French authorities said that about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit have already arrived in Nuuk, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Meanwhile, the German Defense Ministry announced that Berlin will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to the island.
Sweden will contribute three officers, and Norway two, while Britain will send one officer and the Netherlands will send one navy officer, reported Reuters. Poland, on the other hand, said it will not deploy soldiers.
Trump’s Threats
The European moves come in response to Trump’s repeated threats to acquire Greenland, claiming that the island is vital to US security and that Washington must acquire to protect it against Russian or Chinese occupation.
The US President said that all options are on the table to secure Greenland, adding that Denmark could not be relied on to protect the island against Russian and Chinese influence.
In response, Greenland and Denmark rejected Trump’s threats as “reckless,” stressing that the island is not for sale and that security concerns must be addressed among allies.
Greenland is a strategically located Arctic island, boasting rich mineral resources. It is also a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
Major EU powers have rallied behind Denmark, cautioning that any attempt by the US to seize Greenland by force would constitute an existential threat to NATO.
White House Meeting
Amid the growing feud, Danish and Greenlandic officials held a critical meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday.
After the meeting, the Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, alongside his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, highlighted a “fundamental disagreement” with the US over the future of Greenland.
“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering Greenland. And we made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of (Denmark),” he said, adding that dialogue will continue over the coming weeks.
Moreover, Rasmussen said that both sides agreed on the formation of a working group to discuss ways to work through differences.
“The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he noted.
However, Trump doubled down on his threats after the meeting. “Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark. And 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,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
