NATO Contemplating sending Troops to Greenland
A cartoonist’s take on President Trump’s Greenland plan (Flickr).
European NATO states are considering deploying troops to defend Greenland in light of President Trump’s remarks on the island, as of February 7th, 2025, Yahoo News reports.
President Trump has insisted that the United States would acquire Greenland for national security purposes and that he does not rule out the use of military force to fulfill these wishes, per AP. Further, President Trump has remarked that it would be ‘unfriendly’ on Copenhagen’s part if it refused to give the island up, The Economic Times reports.
Many European states, including Germany, are understood to have held informal talks over what NATO troops would do if President Trump were to act on his wishes. There are ambiguities over the duty of NATO states in an intra-NATO conflict, per Yahoo News.
Recently, General Robert Brieger, the highest-ranking military officer in the European Union, stated that deploying EU-led troops to Greenland would send a “strong signal” to President Trump. However, this proposal is stalled because it requires approval from EU member states, and the EU military committee does not possess an army capable of such a mission, according to MSN.
France has started discussing with Denmark the possibility of deploying troops to Greenland, as revealed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Nöel Barrot. Barrot explicitly said that this was not “Denmark’s wish,” as per Essa News.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has taken a more tempered approach to the issue relative to other European leaders. While she asserted that Greenland was not for sale, she also emphasized that she would be open to exploring new avenues for the United States to be more involved in Greenland’s affairs. She agreed with the United States that Arctic cooperation is important but said that self-determination is the primary concern, according to Stripes.
Other high-ranking European officials have also denounced President Trump’s plan.
Politico reports that European Council President António Costa said that preserving the sovereignty and inviolability of Denmark’s borders was essential for all its member states. NATO Chief Mark Rutte, in an effort to de-escalate tensions with the United States, suggested that NATO troops be stationed in Denmark.
France and Germany have publicly contemplated sending European troops to join US forces already stationed in the Arctic. However, some European leaders are advocating for a more comprehensive response to Trump's demands, according to Caliber.Az.
President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s concerns are particularly related to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, which is crucial for US missile warning systems and space surveillance, according to DW.
President Trump remains confident that the United States will secure more favorable terms for itself regarding Greenland.