Pistorius on Greenland: “We did not contribute to the escalation” | EUROtoday

As of: January 25, 2026 8:59 p.m

Federal Defense Minister Pistorius sees a attainable misunderstanding behind the short-term US tariff risk within the dispute over Greenland. The Bundeswehr’s exploratory mission didn’t contribute to the escalation.

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defended the sending of Bundeswehr troopers to Greenland as a part of a NATO exploratory mission. “Everyone in NATO knew about it. It was agreed upon among the NATO partners,” he mentioned within the ARD present Carmen Miosga.

Shortly after the fact-finding mission started, US President Donald Trump threatened Germany, amongst others, with tariffs and later withdrew this risk. Pistorius suspects there’s a misunderstanding on the a part of the USA. “How this may have come about, I will leave that open to debate,” he mentioned.

“No symbolic effect against anyone”

The mission didn’t contribute to the escalation, mentioned Pistorius. “The fact that the American president then withdrew the threats of punitive tariffs shows that there was obviously a misunderstanding in Washington,” mentioned Pistorius.

“It wasn’t about symbolic effect against anyone,” he continued. “It was about showing that NATO has responsibility in Greenland – and we did that.” As a part of Denmark, Greenland can be a NATO territory.

Pistorius: No deal concluded

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump mentioned he agreed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on a “framework for a future agreement” on Greenland. Pistorius now emphasised that there could possibly be no discuss of an settlement. It was only a dialog – “without the participation of Greenland and Denmark.”

Pistorius: Statements on Afghanistan had been “disrespectful”

The protection minister additionally repeated criticism of Trump’s statements concerning the NATO mission in Afghanistan. He had complained a few lack of help from the allies. Trump had mentioned that the companion states had despatched troops, however “they stayed a little behind, a little away from the front.”

When requested, Pistorius mentioned he thought an apology was acceptable. “That would be a sign of decency and respect and also of insight, but we all know how the American president works.” During the operation in Afghanistan, 59 Bundeswehr troopers died and round 500 troopers had been injured, some critically.

“To talk like that about the fallen allies is simply indecent and disrespectful. Everyone stood there, stood by the USA. To claim otherwise today is simply not true,” mentioned Pistorius. He additionally desires to deal with this on the subsequent assembly together with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth.

“Don’t always comment on every statement”

At the identical time, the Defense Minister emphasised that there isn’t a must react to each assertion Trump makes: “I think we should leave it at that. Because honestly, if we were to comment on every statement that comes out every day on various social media or press conferences, we would have a lot to do and no time left to worry about the really important things.”