Seven European countries have sent their troops to Greenland as part of an intelligence mission aimed at strengthening security in the region.
According to Reuters, France sent the largest contingent of 15 soldiers. Germany allocated 13 military personnel. Sweden sent three officers, while Finland and Norway each sent two, and the United Kingdom and the Netherlands each provided one soldier.
The first group of soldiers arrived in Nuuk aboard a Danish Air Force plane on January 14. The next day, Germany sent a new unit, whose mission will last three days from January 15 to 17, as reported by BBC News. There is currently no information on the duration of stay for the other troops in Greenland.
The main reason for sending the troops was to assist Denmark in preparing for large-scale military exercises scheduled for the end of 2026.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen noted that he is unaware of how much NATO's presence on the island will expand. However, he stated, "This will allow us to plan for a broader and more permanent presence throughout 2026, which is very important for demonstrating the significance of security in the Arctic for both Denmark and all of NATO."
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated on January 15 that the arrival of European troops would not change U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions, who still wants Greenland to be under U.S. control. "I don't believe that the presence of European troops will affect the president's decisions and his desire to acquire Greenland," she added.
The deployment of European troops coincided with negotiations that took place on January 14 in Washington between representatives of the U.S. and Denmark with Greenland. The White House summarized that the meeting was productive. Danish authorities also reported that they were unable to convince Trump to abandon the idea of acquiring Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Greenland plays an important role in national security matters for both the U.S. and European countries, believing that the island could become a point of interest for Russia or China.
Earlier, the White House stated that Trump is considering various ways to gain control over Greenland, including the possible use of military force.
