NATO nations deploy to Greenland after tense White House talks

A number of NATO members are deploying small numbers of troops to Greenland, looking for to shore up the Arctic island’s safety within the wake of tense talks with the White Home concerning the U.S. want to annex it.

Denmark, which is chargeable for Greenland’s protection, Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway have all confirmed plans to ship navy personnel to the sparsely populated island this week.

Trump has renewed his sights on taking the island following an audacious navy intervention in Venezuela to depose its president Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3.

The troop deployment comes shortly after the overseas ministers of Denmark and Greenland held talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the White Home.

Talking to reporters alongside Greenland’s Vivian Motzfeldt, Danish International Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen mentioned there had been a “elementary disagreement” with the U.S., however mentioned the hour-long assembly was “frank however constructive.”

Vance and Rubio didn’t instantly remark after the assembly. U.S. President Donald Trump, nevertheless, informed reporters within the Oval Workplace: “We’d like Greenland for nationwide safety.”

The U.S., Denmark, and Greenland agreed to ascertain a high-level working group to debate the way forward for the island, though, as had been broadly anticipated, the three nations had been unable to discover a diplomatic decision to defuse tensions.

Earlier than the assembly, Denmark introduced plans on Wednesday to beef up its navy presence in and round Greenland, saying the train actions may embody guarding nationwide infrastructure, deploying fighter plane and conducting naval operations.

Germany’s Protection Ministry mentioned it might deploy a “reconnaissance staff” of 13 personnel to Nuuk, Greenland, on the invitation of Denmark.

The mission, which can happen Thursday via Saturday, is designed to discover the framework for potential navy contributions to make sure safety within the area, Germany’s Protection Ministry mentioned, together with maritime surveillance capabilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in a social media submit that France will even take part within the joint workouts organized by Denmark in Greenland, referring to it as “Operation Arctic Endurance.”

“The primary French navy parts are already on their method. Others will observe,” Macron mentioned Wednesday on X, in accordance with a Google translation.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned a number of officers from Sweden’s armed forces had been scheduled to reach in Greenland from Wednesday.

“They’re a part of a bunch from a number of allied nations. Collectively, they are going to put together for upcoming parts throughout the framework of the Danish train Operation Arctic Endurance,” Kristersson by way of X, in accordance with a translation.

Opinion polls have proven that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. management, whereas a robust majority assist independence from Denmark.

Denmark has pledged to spice up health-care spending and infrastructure investments in current months, whereas additionally looking for to defuse tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic protection, together with the acquisition of 16 extra F-35 fighter jets.

“We’ve got been stepping up. We’ve got allotted nearly $15 billion inside simply the final couple of years to capabilities within the Excessive North. We’ve got been pushing throughout the Arctic NATO states for larger NATO engagement,” Rasmussen mentioned on Wednesday.

“We did not handle to alter the American place. It is clear that the president has this want of conquering over Greenland,” he continued.

“We made it very, very clear that this isn’t within the curiosity of the dominion.”