Britain sends just one officer to Greenland as Trump threatens control | UK | News
England sent an officer to Greenland while Denmark reinforced its army (Image: PA Tel/PA Images)
Britain has sent a single military officer to Greenland as Denmark strengthens its military footprint in the Arctic and High North regions, following US President Donald Trump’s persistent demands for the US to control the region.
On Wednesday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced that the joint operation would involve multiple allied countries and warned that “nobody can predict what will happen tomorrow.”
No 10 acknowledged that a single UK military officer had been sent on Danish orders to join a reconnaissance team in preparation for the upcoming Arctic Endurance exercise.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We share President Trump’s concerns about the security of the High North. And you see this as part of NATO and JEF countries taking steps to strengthen security in the High North,” adding: “To step up stronger exercises to deter Russian aggression and Chinese activity.”
Berlin, Stockholm, Oslo and Paris have all committed personnel to the joint mission, which aims to strengthen regional security and chart enhanced cooperation to “strengthen our ability to operate in the region,” according to the Danish Ministry of Defence.
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The growing security concerns come under renewed pressure from Mr. Trump, who insists that America should take Greenland to prevent Moscow or Beijing from seizing control of the strategically vital region. The administration has gone so far as to threaten military action to seize Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory and NATO ally, raising alarm bells about the stability of transatlantic relations.
Following public discussions about America’s annexation of Greenland at the beginning of 2026, Britain has intensified its conversations about Arctic defense; Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer discussed the issue in recent phone calls with Mr Trump, the Danish prime minister and NATO secretary-general.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that his country will participate in a joint military exercise.
In his letter to X, he said, “At the request of Denmark, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercise Arctic Endurance Operation organized by Denmark in Greenland.”
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper meets the crew of the Coast Guard ship K/V Turva in Helsinki (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (Image: PA Tel/PA Images)
“The first French military elements have already departed. Others will follow.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper has pledged to increase Arctic protection during a visit to Scandinavia.
Before leaving, he said: “The UK is stepping up Arctic security. We are working with our allies to strengthen Arctic defenses and deter initiatives by the likes of Vladimir Putin that threaten our interests and infrastructure.”
He continued: “We see it as our responsibility and duty to tackle these challenges head on and make us all safer in the process.
“Arctic security is a transatlantic partnership issue critical to the security of Britain and NATO. Coming together as an alliance allows us to remain united and overcome this emerging threat.”
Following talks in Washington on Wednesday with US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio, Danish representatives agreed to form a working group despite “fundamental disagreement” over the potential for a US takeover of the region.
