Europeans prepare military exercises in Greenland
European countries are sending small numbers of military personnel to Greenland as Denmark and its allies prepare for exercises to ensure the security of US President Donald Trump, who is trying to capture the island.
A meeting of officials from the United States, Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday failed to provide a quick solution to the dispute.
“America’s desire to seize Greenland is solid,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Reuters in written comments on Thursday, citing a “fundamental disagreement.”
“This is of course serious and that is why we are continuing our efforts to prevent this scenario from becoming a reality.”
Trump said that the strategically located and mineral-rich island is vital to the security of the United States and that the United States must own the island to prevent Russia or China from invading it.
He said all options were on the table to ensure the security of the region, which is an autonomous region of Denmark.
He says Denmark cannot fend off Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region.
Greenland and Denmark say the island is not for sale, the threat of force is reckless and security concerns should be resolved between the allies.
Leading European Union countries have backed Denmark, warning that a US military takeover of Greenland could actually mean the end of the NATO military alliance.
Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting in the United States, Greenland and Denmark said they had begun increasing their military presence in Greenland and the surrounding area in cooperation with their NATO allies.
Germany, France, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands announced that they will send military personnel to begin preparations for larger exercises to be held later this year.
“The Danish Armed Forces, together with a number of Arctic and European allies, will investigate how increased presence and exercise activities in the Arctic can be implemented in practice in the coming weeks,” the Danish Ministry of Defense said.
About 200 US troops are deployed in Greenland, which has a population of about 57,000, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Wednesday.
The scale of the planned European military build-up has not been publicly disclosed, but initial deployments appear to be small.
The German Armed Forces were deploying a 13-man reconnaissance team that would head first to Copenhagen and then to Greenland with Danish personnel.
Late Wednesday, a Danish Air Force plane landed at Nuuk airport and personnel in military fatigues got off the plane.
Sweden was sending three officers and Norway was sending two.
Finland will send two military liaison officers to investigate potential training activities, the defense ministry said on Thursday.
France’s ambassador to the poles, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, said France would send about 15 mountain experts.
“The first team of French military personnel is already in the field and will be reinforced with land, air and naval assets in the coming days,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. he said.
He added that France and the EU as a whole must “be tenacious in preserving regional sovereignty.”
A UK officer was joining the reconnaissance group.
He said he would send an officer from the Dutch navy.
Poland announced that it would not send troops.
After meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance on Wednesday, Rasmussen and Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said the US and Denmark would form a working group to discuss concerns about the island.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated on Facebook on Thursday that the island does not want to be governed by or belong to the United States and will remain part of the NATO alliance with Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: “This is not the time for internal debates. Now is the time for unity, calm and responsibility. I follow the situation closely and I am with you to take care of Greenland.” he said.
