Europe Deploys NATO Forces to Greenland Amid Trump’s Annexation Threat
Several European nations have moved to reinforce Greenland’s security, deploying NATO troops to the Arctic territory following renewed statements by former United States President Donald Trump suggesting a possible American takeover of the island.
Denmark, which holds responsibility for Greenland’s defence, confirmed that Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway are participating in the deployment. The move comes after Trump, in recent remarks, reiterated claims that the United States “needs Greenland for national security,” and hinted at the possibility of asserting control over the territory.
French officials disclosed that a small military contingent has already arrived in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, as part of what has been described as a reconnaissance and joint exercise mission. French President Emmanuel Macron said the initial deployment would soon be reinforced with additional “land, air, and sea assets.”
Senior French diplomat Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, quoted by the BBC, said the operation was intended to send a strong political message. “This is a first exercise… we will show the United States that NATO is present,” he said.
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Greenland’s foreign ministers also travelled to Washington this week for talks with US Vice-President JD Vance. After the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said discussions were constructive but revealed a “fundamental disagreement” between both sides, later criticising Trump’s renewed bid to bring Greenland under US control.
Trump, however, maintained his stance, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Greenland was vital to American security interests. While he stopped short of explicitly threatening military action, he suggested that a resolution with Denmark was still possible.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the deployment of European troops was unlikely to influence the former president’s position on the Arctic territory.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would not take part in the deployment but warned that any military intervention by the United States in Greenland would be “a political disaster.”
“A conflict or attempted annexation of the territory of a NATO member by another NATO member would undermine the alliance and the security framework that has guaranteed our safety for decades,” Tusk told reporters.
Russia’s embassy in Belgium also expressed concern, accusing NATO of increasing its military footprint in the Arctic under what it described as a “false pretext” of threats from Moscow and Beijing.
Officials clarified that the European deployment involves only a few dozen personnel as part of Danish-led joint drills known as OPERATION ARCTIC ENDURANCE. While limited in scale, the move carries significant symbolic weight amid growing geopolitical tensions over the strategic Arctic region.
By PRNigeria
