A 15-strong French military contingent has arrived in the Greenland capital Nuuk, as several European states send soldiers there as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.
The deployment, which will also include personnel from Germany, Sweden, Norway, 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 troop deployment would be reinforced in the coming days with 'land, air, and sea assets'.
Senior French 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.'
The movement of military personnel follows meetings between Denmark and Greenland's foreign ministers and US Vice-President JD Vance, where a 'fundamental disagreement' remained regarding Trump's bid to buy Greenland.
Trump has asserted the necessity of Greenland for US national security, implying that military force could be an option regarding potential threats from China and Russia.
Concerns have been raised by Poland and Russia, the latter accusing NATO of exacerbating the situation in the Arctic. However, the European military deployment is currently small, with less than a few dozen personnel involved in Operation Arctic Endurance, raising questions about their long-term presence.
Denmark confirms plans for periodic military rotations and cooperative exercises with European allies to enhance security in the Arctic region, reflecting the growing strategic importance of Greenland against the backdrop of international tensions.
Greenland's Prime Minister has emphasized his territory's desire for independence from US governance, insisting they favor relations with Denmark.
