A 15-member French military contingent has arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, as part of a reconnaissance mission involving several European nations. This deployment, which also includes military personnel from Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the UK, comes amid increasing tensions regarding the Arctic island, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, particularly following statements from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his interest in Greenland.
French special envoy Olivier Poivre d’Arvor described the deployment as unprecedented, stating it sends a strong political signal. “This is a first exercise… we’ll show the US that NATO is present,” he commented. The military movement follows a meeting in Washington between Denmark and Greenland’s foreign ministers and U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, highlighting the growing focus on security in the Arctic region.
President Trump has reiterated his claim on Greenland, asserting, “we need Greenland for national security.” He indicated that while he did not rule out the use of force, he believed a resolution could be reached with Denmark. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned that any U.S. military intervention could lead to significant political fallout, stating, “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.”
Amid these developments, Russia’s embassy in Belgium expressed “serious concern” over NATO’s military buildup in the Arctic, accusing the alliance of fabricating a threat from Russia and China. The European NATO deployment, albeit symbolic, consists of only a few dozen personnel as part of Danish-led joint exercises named Operation Arctic Endurance. Germany is sending an A400M transport plane to Nuuk with a contingent of 13 soldiers, although their stay is expected to be brief.
Danish officials have announced plans for an increased military presence around Greenland to enhance NATO’s “footprint in the Arctic for the benefit of both European and transatlantic security.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen underscored that the defence and protection of Greenland is a common concern for the entire NATO alliance. In response to Trump’s assertions, Denmark’s foreign minister maintained that there is no immediate threat from China or Russia that cannot be managed.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated that his territory is facing a geopolitical crisis, emphasising that the people of Greenland prefer to remain under Danish governance rather than being controlled by the United States. “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States,” he reiterated, reflecting the island’s desire for self-determination amid increasing international scrutiny.
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