European Troops Deploy to Greenland Amid US Acquisition Ambitions

Troops from several European countries arrived in Greenland Thursday for a two-day mission aimed at bolstering the territory’s defenses amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic region. The deployment comes as the Trump administration continues to express interest in acquiring the Danish territory.

Military personnel from France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Britain are participating in the exercise, which officials say demonstrates their ability to deploy assets “quickly” to the strategically important Arctic region. Germany has deployed a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel, France sent 15 mountain specialists, while Sweden, Norway, and Britain contributed three, two, and one officers respectively, according to Reuters.

“The geopolitical tensions have spread to the Arctic. The Government of Greenland and the Danish Ministry of Defense have therefore decided to continue the Danish Armed Forces’ increased exercise activity in Greenland, in close cooperation with NATO allies,” the Danish Ministry of Defense said in a statement Wednesday.

The ministry emphasized that the expanded military presence aims to “train the ability to operate under the unique Arctic conditions and to strengthen the alliance’s footprint in the Arctic, benefiting both European and transatlantic security.”

Danish officials indicated that the 2026 exercise activities could include guarding critical infrastructure, providing assistance to local authorities in Greenland, receiving allied troops, deploying fighter aircraft, and conducting naval operations. An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force was seen at Wunstorf Air Base in Germany on Thursday as troops prepared to depart for Greenland.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed Sweden’s participation in the operation via social media, writing on X: “Some officers from the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland today. They are part of a group from several allied countries. Together they will prepare upcoming steps within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance.”

The military exercises come at a sensitive time in US-Danish relations regarding Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen bluntly told Reuters on Thursday that “the American ambition to take over Greenland is intact,” adding, “That is of course serious, and therefore we continue our efforts to prevent this scenario becoming a reality.”

The diplomatic tension was further highlighted when Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Wednesday, presumably to discuss the situation.

Greenland’s strategic importance has grown significantly in recent years as climate change opens new shipping routes and makes previously inaccessible natural resources potentially available for extraction. The island is also home to Thule Air Base, a critical US military installation that hosts radar systems crucial for missile defense.

The territory, which is largely self-governing but remains under Danish sovereignty, has become a focal point for growing competition between world powers in the Arctic region. Russia has expanded its military presence in its northern territories, while China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and sought investment opportunities in Greenland.

The current deployment reflects NATO’s increasing focus on Arctic security and appears timed to send a clear message about European nations’ commitment to maintaining sovereignty over Greenland despite renewed American interest in the territory.

As climate change continues to transform the Arctic landscape and geopolitical pressures mount, Greenland’s strategic importance on the world stage seems certain to grow, potentially making it a flashpoint for diplomatic tensions between traditional allies in the years ahead.