European forces arrive as tensions simmer
Military personnel from several European countries have begun arriving in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, for a reconnaissance and training mission, stepping up a visible presence in the Arctic amid growing geopolitical concern. France, Germany, Sweden, Norway — and later the Netherlands and Estonia — announced deployments this week, with officials saying the activities are intended to bolster security and assess threats in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron said an initial French team is already on site and will be reinforced “in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets.” Greenland’s Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede warned that NATO soldiers will be more present “from today and in the coming days,” with increased flights and ships expected as part of routine training.
Diplomacy falls short in Washington
High-level talks in Washington between U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officials did little to close the gap between Copenhagen and the White House. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, speaking after leaving the White House, called a U.S. takeover of Greenland “absolutely not necessary” and told reporters the meeting failed to change America’s stance: “We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear the president has this wish of conquering Greenland,” he said.
At the same time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the idea that the European deployments would alter U.S. calculations, saying, “I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all.”
Strategic concerns and allied coordination
Germany’s defence ministry described the mission as a way to “explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic,” and announced a 13-person Bundeswehr reconnaissance team would be in Nuuk for several days at Denmark’s invitation. Dutch and Estonian officials framed their participation as a signal that Greenland’s security is of strategic importance to all NATO allies; Estonia’s foreign minister said his country was “ready to put boots on the ground if requested.”
The deployments underline a broader shift: Arctic security is increasingly framed as a collective concern, even as political disagreement simmers over sovereignty and influence. Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly emphasized their desire to keep the island within the Kingdom of Denmark and to resolve security through multilateral cooperation rather than unilateral action.
