Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Several NATO countries are deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland to take part in joint exercises with Denmark, as President Donald Trump intensifies his threats to forcibly annex the Arctic island.
Trump’s remarks have sent shockwaves through Europe’s
decades-old, US-led security alliance by raising the unprecedented possibility
of NATO’s most powerful member seeking to take over territory belonging to
another member state. Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense,
has warned that any attack on the island would effectively spell the end of
NATO and has announced an expansion of its military presence in close
cooperation with allied nations.
Germany, Sweden, France, and Norway have confirmed that they
are sending military personnel to Greenland this week to participate in joint
exercises with Danish forces. Canada and France have also announced plans to
open consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, in the coming weeks, further
underlining diplomatic support for Denmark and Greenland.
While it is common for NATO countries to deploy troops to
train in other allied nations, and joint Arctic exercises have been encouraged
for years, the timing and symbolism of these deployments are striking.
They come amid extraordinary tensions within NATO, triggered
by Trump’s increasingly blunt statements about Greenland. The United States
already maintains about 150 troops at its Pituffik Space Base in northwestern
Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly voiced his ambition to seize control of
the world’s largest island, including by force if necessary, stating during a
recent press conference that he would “do something on Greenland, whether they
like it or not.”
Germany’s Defense Ministry said it is sending a small
reconnaissance team to Greenland for an exploration mission alongside other
partner nations at Denmark’s invitation. Sweden confirmed it has also sent
troops at Denmark’s request, noting they will help prepare for a broader
exercise known as Operation Arctic Endurance.
France has announced its participation in the same
operation, with President Emmanuel Macron saying the first French military
units are already en route, and more will follow. Norway has also confirmed it
is sending defense personnel to Greenland.
NATO is founded on the principle that an attack on one
member is considered an attack on all, which makes US threats against Greenland
particularly extraordinary. Greenland is part of NATO through its association
with Denmark. Denmark’s defense minister has described the idea of a US attack
as hypothetical, stressing that it is highly unlikely for one NATO member to
attack another.
The European troop deployments were announced as Danish and
Greenlandic officials held meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and
Vice President JD Vance, shortly after Trump stated online that “anything less”
than US control of Greenland is unacceptable. Trump argued that NATO would
become stronger and more effective if Greenland were under US control.
The talks produced few concrete outcomes. Danish officials
described the discussions as frank but constructive, while acknowledging that
fundamental disagreements remain. However, all sides agreed to establish a
high-level working group aimed at finding a possible path forward, which is
expected to meet in the coming weeks.
Canada has reiterated its firm support for Denmark and
Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with its foreign minister
confirming plans to travel to Greenland to open a Canadian consulate in Nuuk
and reinforce Canada’s commitment to Arctic security. France has also confirmed
it will open a consulate in Greenland in early February, a move that had been
planned prior to the current crisis.
French officials have urged the United States to stop
issuing threats toward Greenland, warning that any attack on a fellow NATO
member would be contrary to US interests and undermine the alliance itself.
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