A small French military contingent has arrived in Greenland's capital Nuuk, officials say, as several European states deploy small numbers in a so-called reconnaissance mission.
The limited deployment, which also involves Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK, comes as US President Donald Trump continues to press his claim to the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the initial contingent would be reinforced soon with land, air, and sea assets. Senior diplomat Olivier Poivre d'Arvor saw the mission as sending a strong political signal: This is a first exercise... we'll show the US that NATO is present.
Poivre d'Arvor said the initial French deployment involved 15 people, hours after Denmark and Greenland's foreign ministers traveled to Washington for a meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance. Following the meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said while the talks were constructive, there remained a fundamental disagreement between the two sides and later criticized Trump's bid to buy Greenland.
Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his bid to bring Greenland under US control, telling reporters in the Oval Office, we need Greenland for national security. Although he did not rule out the use of force, he thought something could be worked out with Denmark.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that any US military intervention in Greenland would be a political disaster. He remarked, A conflict or attempted annexation of the territory of a NATO member by another NATO member would be the end of the world as we know it.
Russia's embassy in Belgium expressed serious concern at the developments, accusing NATO of building a military presence in the Arctic under the false pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing.
However, the European NATO deployment consists mostly of a few dozen personnel within Danish-led joint exercises called Operation Arctic Endurance, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the presence.
Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated the intention for a rotating military presence that would gradually strengthen with foreign allies participating in exercises and training activities on the island.
