In the conflict with the US over Greenland, the German armed forces are sending soldiers to the Arctic island. Thirteen German soldiers are scheduled to arrive in the capital, Nuuk, on Thursday as part of a European reconnaissance team, the German Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday. A crisis meeting in Washington ended without results; according to Danish sources, US President Donald Trump is maintaining his claim to Greenland.
According to Berlin, the German soldiers are to remain in Greenland until at least Saturday. Their task is to explore “the framework for possible military contributions to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region.” This includes, for example, maritime surveillance capabilities.
Germany and other European nations are participating in the reconnaissance mission. Among others, NATO countries France and Sweden have announced the deployment of troops.
The conflict over Greenland threatens to split NATO. A meeting of high-ranking representatives from the US, Denmark, and Greenland in Washington failed to produce a solution. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said afterward that Trump still wanted to “conquer” Greenland. Rasmussen spoke alongside his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt; both had previously met with US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the White House grounds.
Trump himself, however, struck an uncharacteristically conciliatory tone after the meeting, which he did not attend. The US has “a very good relationship with Denmark,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think something will come of it.”
Shortly before, he had reaffirmed the United States’ claim to Greenland. The US must control Greenland; anything else is “unacceptable,” the US president emphasized. The vast Arctic island is crucial for the construction of the US missile defense system “Golden Dome,” Trump wrote on his online service, Truth Social.
Trump had also justified his claim on geopolitical grounds in recent days: “If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will, and I won’t allow that,” he said. The US president did not rule out military means.
Shortly before the crisis meeting at the White House, the Danish government announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland. The army is deploying units to the island for maneuvers with immediate effect, the Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen declared. This will “lead to an increased military presence in and around Greenland,” including the presence of aircraft, ships, and soldiers, including those from NATO allies.
Sweden also announced the deployment of additional military personnel to Greenland. The commanders have been tasked with preparing the next stages of the “Operation Arctic Endurance” exercise, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on Twitter. In total, several thousand soldiers from “several allied countries” are participating.