Germany deployed troops to Greenland as Trump ramps up annexation threats(Image: Getty)
Denmark’s allies, including Germany, Canada and the Netherlands, are sending troops to Greenland for military drills as concerns mount over potential threats from Washington and other enemies.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed the significant deployment after local media broke news of the operations. Several NATO countries are bolstering their footprint on the mineral-rich Arctic territory, following escalating invasion threats from US President Donald Trump; a stance backed by some members of Congress.
The move also responds to increasing Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic, which remains a serious worry for NATO.
“Security in the Arctic is of crucial importance to the Kingdom and our Arctic allies, and it is therefore important that we, in close cooperation with allies, further strengthen our ability to operate in the region,” Lund Poulsen said in a statement. “The Danish Defense Forces, together with several Arctic and European allies, will explore in the coming weeks how an increased presence and exercise activity in the Arctic can be implemented.”
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Greenlanders protest against Trump’s annexation threats(Image: Getty)
He also revealed that Denmark’s defence ministry is dispatching Danish aircraft, naval vessels and personnel for the training drills, which will involve “receiving allied forces, operating fighter jets and carrying out maritime security tasks,” the ministry said, reports the Express US.
The announcement follows Trump’s latest threatening post on social media just a day earlier. “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” he posted on Truth Social on Wednesday.
“It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”.
Earlier that day, Denmark revealed it was deploying advanced military personnel and hardware to Greenland.
Swedish troops, including officers from the Swedish Armed Forces, are also heading to the territory for exercises, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed Wednesday on X.
“Some officers from the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland today. They are part of a group from several allied countries,” he wrote on X. “Together they will prepare upcoming steps within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance. It is at the request of Denmark that Sweden is sending personnel from the Armed Forces.”
France has also revealed plans to establish a consulate in Greenland on February 6. French officials described the decision as a “political signal” aimed at Trump following his growing annexation rhetoric, France24 reports.
“For my part, I went there at the end of August to plan the consulate, which will open on February 6,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French RTL. “It’s a political signal that’s associated with a desire to be more present in Greenland, including in the scientific field.”
He further stated, “Greenland does not want to be owned, governed … or integrated into the United States. Greenland has made the choice of Denmark, NATO, [European] Union.”
German officials have reportedly informed that operations are being organised in Copenhagen, rather than NATO headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, to sidestep U.S. involvement, and could kick off as early as Thursday.
According to BILD, German mountain troops, along with Navy and Air Force personnel, are seen as the “primary candidates” for the mission.
Germany’s new Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft touched down in Greenland in November.
Earlier in the day, German Defence Minister Boris Postorius called on NATO to safeguard the wider Greenland region against Chinese and Russian aggression in the Arctic, in an article penned for the German newspaper, Die Zeit.
Greenland has consistently voiced its desire for independence and vehemently opposes any notion of a U.S. takeover, making it abundantly clear that the mineral-rich island is not on the market.