Power struggle over island

Sweden immediately sends soldiers to Greenland

A Danish warship off the coast of Greenland(Bild: AFP/ODD ANDERSEN)

Now everything is happening very quickly! Several European countries have announced immediate measures to station soldiers in Greenland. Will this deter Donald Trump? Initial signs point to the exact opposite...

In view of the US threats against Greenland, Denmark is seeking military assistance from European NATO partner countries. Several officers from the Swedish army will arrive in Greenland on Wednesday, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm. The army personnel are being sent at Denmark's request – initially for an exercise.

Norway is also sending two defense officials to Greenland. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik had previously told Reuters that the officials would "work out further cooperation between the (NATO) allies." Germany will also fly its first soldiers to Greenland on Thursday morning. According to a government spokesperson, an "advance team" of 13 reconnaissance soldiers will be the first to take action.

Meeting without results
The timing of the joint action was apparently chosen strategically. At around the same time, members of parliament from Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio to negotiate the future of the huge ice island. According to Copenhagen, the meeting went "well."

However, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed in a press conference that "fundamental differences of opinion" could not be resolved (see tweet above). The channels of communication are to remain "open" in order to ensure Greenland's long-term security "within the current framework." In other words, nothing has changed in terms of positions, and Trump should stay away! According to reporters, the meeting lasted only an hour and a half.

Trump continues to rage and threaten
Europe's move is unlikely to have been well received in Washington. The US responded to the troop announcements with ridicule and scorn (see tweet below). The White House published an AI-generated image of two dog sleds – one heading towards the White House, the other towards China and Russia. Above the image is the question "Which way will it be, Greenland?" 

US President Trump was already applying pressure before the meeting, writing in capital letters: "IF WE DON'T DO IT, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN!" 

The US continues to ignore all warning signals from Europe. Denmark announced even before the meeting in Washington that it would further strengthen its military presence in Greenland. "But we will also push within NATO for more exercises and a stronger NATO presence in the Arctic," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Wednesday. Denmark is in talks with its allies "about new and increased activities in 2026" regarding Greenland.

US President Trump countered with an unchanged maximum position. NATO membership of the territory in the North Atlantic, which belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, is not sufficient protection for Greenland. Anything other than the US annexing Greenland is "unacceptable."

Europe responds with unity to US threats
In view of US claims, France will open a consulate in Greenland. The representation is scheduled to begin work on February 6, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio on Wednesday. The US must stop blackmailing Greenland and demanding control over the world's largest island, Barrot said.

Background

• Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO alliance.
• Trump had already shown interest in acquiring the huge, resource-rich island during his first term in office.
• Militarily, his move makes little sense, as the US already has a base in Greenland – and therefore access to the island.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Trump sharply against taking action against Greenland after a cabinet meeting in Paris. An attack on the sovereignty of a European and allied country would trigger "a cascade of unprecedented consequences." France is monitoring the situation with the utmost attention and will act in full solidarity with Denmark and its sovereignty.