Military forces from several European countries began deploying troops into Greenland today to conduct patrol and training missions following a deadlocked high-level negotiation in Washington, D.C., between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. Both sides remain in "complete disagreement" over President Donald Trump's attempt to take control of this resource-rich island.
Armies from France, Sweden, Germany, and Norway announced the deployment of troops to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, today (15 Jan) to carry out reconnaissance and military exercises. This move symbolizes the protection of Denmark's territorial integrity.
Mute Egede, Deputy Prime Minister of Greenland, confirmed that NATO troops will increasingly appear in Greenland starting today, through military flights and naval vessels. French President Emmanuel Macron stated on the platform X that the first group of French soldiers is already en route to Greenland. Meanwhile, the German Ministry of Defense said it has sent a 13-person patrol team from the Bundeswehr, Germany’s Federal Defense Forces, to Nuuk since Thursday at Denmark's invitation, with operations running from Thursday through Sunday.
This European military activity follows a meeting where Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and a delegation from Greenland met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, but the talks failed to change the Trump administration’s position.
Rasmussen told reporters, "We could not change America's stance. It is clear that the President (Trump) still desires to possess Greenland. We remain in complete disagreement, but we agreed to accept this difference of opinion."
Although Trump did not participate directly in the talks, he later gave a more relaxed interview, saying he has a good relationship with Denmark. However, he maintained that if Russia or China tried to seize Greenland, Denmark would lack the capability to defend it, and only the United States could handle such a situation.
Analysts view that Trump is increasingly confident in pursuing a tougher policy after recently ordering a strike in Venezuela that led to the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro earlier in January.
On the streets of Nuuk, residents decorated windows, apartment balconies, and buses with red-and-white Greenlandic flags to demonstrate national unity amid concerns about becoming the center of a global conflict.
"It's very scary because this is a major global issue," said Vera Stidsen, a Nuuk resident. "I hope that in the future, we can still live peacefully as before, without disturbance from great powers."
/sourceAFP