EU Troops Continue Arriving in Greenland

European military contingents continued to arrive in Greenland this week in a coordinated display of support for Denmark, as talks involving Denmark, Greenland, and the United States revealed what officials described as “fundamental disagreements” over the Arctic island’s future.

Denmark announced on Wednesday that it would further increase its military presence in Greenland, a move that coincided with preparations by Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers to meet senior U.S. officials at the White House. 

The developments were reported Friday by The Washington Times, underscoring rising geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategically located Arctic territory.

Several European countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have begun deploying symbolic numbers of troops to Greenland, either starting this week or pledging to do so in the coming days. The deployments are largely rotational and limited in scale, but their political significance has been widely noted.

European officials say the moves are intended to demonstrate unity and to send a clear message to U.S. President Donald Trump that American control over Greenland is neither necessary nor justified. They argue that NATO, acting collectively, is capable of ensuring Arctic security amid growing Russian and Chinese interest in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that “the first French military elements are on their way, with more to follow.” French authorities confirmed that around 15 soldiers from a mountain infantry unit were en route to Greenland as part of military exercises. Germany, meanwhile, said its defense ministry dispatched a 13-member reconnaissance team to the island on Thursday.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the objective was to establish a more permanent military footprint while increasing Denmark’s own contribution. Speaking to Danish public radio, Poulsen stressed that NATO troops from several countries would operate in Greenland on a rotational basis.

“From today and going forward, there will be an increased military presence in and around Greenland, aircraft, ships, and troops, including from our NATO allies,” Poulsen said, describing the move as necessary in a security environment where “no one can predict what will happen tomorrow.”

The military developments come as diplomatic tensions with Washington remain unresolved. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who traveled to Washington alongside Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, said talks with U.S. officials exposed a “fundamental disagreement” with President Trump over Greenland.

After meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rasmussen said it was clear that Trump continues to express interest in “taking over Greenland.” Despite this, he emphasized that dialogue with the United States would continue at the highest level in the coming weeks.

In Greenland and Denmark, public reaction has been mixed, marked by concern but also a degree of relief that negotiations are ongoing and that European support is becoming more visible. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed continued diplomacy, stating firmly on Thursday: “Greenland is not for sale. It does not want to be part of the United States, and it does not want to be governed by the United States.”

Local residents said the first formal meeting between Greenlandic, Danish, and American officials was an important step, though many noted that it left key questions unanswered about Washington’s long-term intentions.