Soldiers suddenly gone

A bombshell in Greenland: Germans leave

(Bild: AFP/ALESSANDRO RAMPAZZO)

Everything has changed again in Greenland! Contrary to previous statements, the German soldiers have left in a hurry. The order to withdraw is said to have been given on Sunday morning.

The only information initially available was: retreat! This was reported by the Bild newspaper. All planned appointments apparently had to be canceled in a hurry. On Saturday, it was still said that the Germans would stay longer than planned. Then US President Donald Trump announced his tariff hammer against several NATO countries – including Germany.

According to the newspaper, it was unclear for a long time why the soldiers were suddenly ordered back. According to the German Ministry of Defense, the Europeans' reconnaissance mission is to examine conditions for joint military exercises. These are intended to strengthen Greenland's security, according to the latest reports.

A spokesperson for the German Armed Forces Operational Command tried to appease the situation: "The results of the reconnaissance are such that everyone is satisfied and the evaluation is now being carried out in Germany." The mission had not been aborted. "The reconnaissance was carried out as planned." Another tour had also been canceled "due to weather conditions." The soldiers had only arrived on the island on Friday, together with comrades from other European countries.

Little agreement within NATO
Criticism of the mission has also come from Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned against escalation after US President Donald Trump's customs threats against European countries in the conflict over Greenland. Now, she said, it is necessary to "resume dialogue."

Her foreign minister described the deployment of soldiers as a "joke." Meloni herself is trying to limit the damage. The mission should not be interpreted as "anti-American." The Italian prime minister reported that she had therefore spoken to Trump herself on the phone. "I believe that it is very important to talk to each other at this stage." Meloni is considered one of the European heads of government who has good access to Trump.

The joint European mission was launched after a meeting on Wednesday in Washington between the foreign ministers of Denmark, Greenland, and the US on the future of the huge ice island failed. 

Germany's withdrawal is also likely to affect other countries unexpectedly. On Sunday, Slovenia announced that it actually wanted to join the Danish-led mission. But now Germany has declared the operation "completed." A planned press conference by the Danish command was canceled at short notice on Saturday after Trump's tariff hammer.

Geopolitical expert Gerhard Mangott had harsh words in his initial reaction to the hasty-seeming order to withdraw on Platform X: "We are living in a time of European humiliation."

Greenland, which is largely autonomous, belongs to the territory of Denmark. However, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly made it clear that the US wants to annex the largely ice-covered island. Most European NATO partners vehemently reject this.