European Troops Arrive in Greenland Amid Tensions Over US Interest in the Island

Troops from several European countries, including France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, are arriving in Greenland to bolster the Arctic island’s security following talks between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States that exposed a “fundamental disagreement” over the island’s future.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that “the first French military elements are already en route” and “others will follow.” French authorities confirmed that about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit had already reached Nuuk to participate in a military exercise. Germany is sending a 13-member reconnaissance team on Thursday, according to its Defense Ministry.

Denmark said it would increase its own military presence in Greenland, with NATO allies joining in a rotational system. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR that the move aimed “to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution.” He described the increased presence of aircraft, ships, and soldiers in Greenland and surrounding areas as a necessary step in an unpredictable security environment.

The deployments come after Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt held talks in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss US President Donald Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland. Rasmussen said the discussions revealed a “fundamental disagreement” over the island, adding that it remained “clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland.”

Trump, speaking to the media in the Oval Office, said: “We really need it. If we don’t go in, Russia is going to go in and China is going to go in. And there’s not a thing Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it.” He added that he had not yet been briefed on the contents of the White House meeting when he made the remarks.

In Nuuk, residents expressed cautious relief that talks had taken place but said they left many questions unanswered. Maya Martinsen, 21, told The Associated Press that the reinforcements from Nordic countries were “comforting” because Greenland is part of Denmark and NATO, while noting that the dispute centers on “the oils and minerals that we have that are untouched.”

A working group has been created with the Americans to address security concerns while respecting Denmark’s “red lines,” Rasmussen said. Poulsen called the group “better than no working group” and “a step in the right direction,” though he stressed that “the danger has not passed.”

Rasmussen also rejected the possibility of a US military takeover or purchase of the island, saying Greenlanders were unlikely to vote for US rule even if financial incentives were offered. “You haven’t introduced a Scandinavian welfare system in your own country,” he added.

Trump told reporters that he hoped a resolution would be reached, saying, “We’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out.”