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The deployment of European troops in Greenland has no impact on US President Donald Trump’s plans to take control of the Arctic island from Denmark, the White House said on Thursday.
“I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the deployment.
Her comments come on the same day that European military personnel began arriving in Greenland, hours after a meeting between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington failed to resolve what Denmark’s foreign minister called “fundamental disagreement” over the mineral-rich Arctic island.
France, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced on Wednesday that they would deploy military personnel as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland’s capital Nuuk.
Germany’s defence ministry said on Thursday that the reconnaissance mission to Greenland by several European NATO members aims “to explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic.”
A 13-strong Bundeswehr reconnaissance team would deploy to Nuuk from Thursday to Sunday at Denmark’s invitation, the ministry said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would soon send more “land, air, and sea” forces to join the military exercise in Greenland.
“A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets,” Macron told troops during a speech to start the new year.
“Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships,” Greenland’s Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede said at a news conference on Wednesday, adding they would be conducting “training.”
Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Estonia announced they would join the exercise, which Dutch Foreign Minister Ruben Brekelmans described as a signal that security matters in Greenland and the region are “of strategic importance to all NATO allies.”
Estonia was also “ready to put boots on the ground if requested,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a post on X.
The deployment was announced the same day the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, speaking after leaving the White House, said a US takeover of Greenland was “absolutely not necessary.”
“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear the president has this wish of conquering Greenland,” Løkke told reporters. “We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.”
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to take control of the autonomous Danish territory, arguing it is vital for US security.
Trump: ‘I think something will work out’
Trump, speaking after the meeting which he did not attend, for the first time sounded conciliatory on Greenland, acknowledging Denmark’s interests even as he again said he was not ruling out any options.
“I have a very good relationship with Denmark and we’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out,” Trump said without giving any further details.
He reiterated that Denmark was powerless if Russia or China sought to occupy Greenland, but added, “There’s everything we can do.”
Trump has appeared emboldened on Greenland after ordering a surprise 3 January attack in Venezuela that removed Nicolás Maduro.
Additional sources • AP, AFP
