A 15-strong French military contingent has arrived in the Greenland capital Nuuk, as several European states send soldiers there as part of a reconnaissance mission.
The deployment, which will also include personnel from Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the UK, comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to press his claim to the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the initial troop deployment would be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and sea assets.
Senior French diplomat Olivier Poivre d'Arvor characterized the mission as a strong political signal: This is a first exercise... we'll show the US that NATO is present.
The movement of military personnel follows a meeting in Washington involving Denmark and Greenland's foreign ministers with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen noted that despite constructive talks, a fundamental disagreement persisted regarding Trump's bid to purchase Greenland.
In response, Trump reaffirmed his interest in acquiring Greenland for national security purposes, suggesting potential military implications should Russia or China consider occupying the territory.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk cautioned against any U.S. military intervention in Greenland, warning it would lead to a serious political disaster. He asserted that a conflict among NATO members would upend global security paradigms.
Russia expressed serious concern over the situation, accusing NATO of escalating military operations in the Arctic under the pretext of addressing threats from Moscow and Beijing.
However, the European NATO operations currently involve only a limited number of personnel and are part of a Danish-led initiative called Operation Arctic Endurance. The long-term presence and overall impact of this deployment remain uncertain.
Germany is contributing through an A400M transport plane, sending 13 soldiers to Nuuk for a short stay until the end of the week.
Danish officials have announced plans for an increased military presence around Greenland, aiming to enhance NATO's security footprint in the Arctic region.
During his new year address, Macron emphasized the European responsibility for Greenland as a territory related to the EU and a NATO ally.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen shared intentions for a rotating military presence to establish a more permanent footprint with allied participation in training exercises.
The anticipated negotiations between a U.S. delegation and Danish officials are set to occur shortly following these developments, likely further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
