Military personnel from France and Germany arrived in Greenland on Thursday as Denmark and its allies conducted exercises to reassure US President Donald Trump while rejecting his push to acquire the strategically important island.
Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland, rich in minerals and strategically located in the Arctic, is vital to US security, warning that the United States must secure it to prevent Russian or Chinese influence.
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Denmark and Greenland firmly rejected any sale of the territory, describing threats of force as reckless. European allies including Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway are boosting Arctic defence and supporting Denmark’s sovereignty through military deployments.
Initial deployments include a 13-member German reconnaissance team flown to Nuuk aboard an Airbus A400M, with France sending additional military personnel. The exercises aim to demonstrate NATO readiness and improve surveillance over Greenland.
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Experts say the military buildup serves two purposes: deterring potential US aggression while signalling that Denmark and European partners are enhancing their capabilities to protect Greenland’s sovereignty and Arctic security.
Following talks at the White House, the US and Denmark agreed to form a working group to address broader security and cooperation concerns, though Washington’s position on acquiring Greenland remains unchanged, which Denmark considers unacceptable.