Trump accused of exaggerating Russian menace to Greenland as European troops arrive | EUROtoday

President Donald Trump is exaggerating the menace to Greenland posed by Russia and China, Sweden’s defence minister has stated as European troops arrived within the territory.

Military reinforcements from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden are to assist increase Arctic safety amid persistent threats of a full US takeover by Trump.

Part of the American chief’s justification for his ambitions is that ”if we don’t, Russia or China will”, insisting that Nato ought to help the plans for its personal safety.

However, Sweden’s defence minister, Pal Johnson, dismissed the claims as an “exaggeration”.

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“If you state that Greenland is flooded with Russian and Chinese vessels, that’s an exaggeration according to the assessments that we do for the region,” he informed the Telegraph.

Trump has stated the area is “covered with Chinese and Russian ships all over the place”. But, whereas there was a rise in China’s analysis vessels being stationed within the Arctic, Johnson stated the scope of such placements was “limited”.

“I don’t think it should be exaggerated, it tends to be predominantly focusing on research vessels,” he defined.

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Europe has been left scrambling for a response to the plans – dubbed by some because the “end of Nato” if profitable– with French president Emmanuel Macron to carry an emergency assembly along with his defence cupboard in Paris on Thursday.

Denmark and Nato allies have elevated their army presence within the area amid the uncertainty. Sweden confirmed a deployment of army officers to the Arctic at Denmark’s request and others together with the UK are anticipated to comply with within the coming weeks.

“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organised by Denmark in Greenland,” Macron confirmed in a submit on X/Twitter on Thursday. “The first French military elements are already en route. Others will follow.”

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Germany will deploy a reconnaissance crew of 13 personnel, France will ship 15 troopers and the UK is anticipated to ship one army officer.

It follows strained discussions on the White House on Tuesday that resulted in a “fundamental disagreement” between Greenland and Denmark and the US.

The assembly between Danish overseas minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland’s overseas minister Vivian Motzfeldt, was initially to be held with secretary of state Marco Rubio earlier than vice-president JD Vance demanded to be included.

Denmark and the US have agreed to arrange a working group to debate methods to resolve the variations as Trump continues to make statements that he wants the nation.

“The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” Rasmussen informed reporters on Wednesday. He stated {that a} US acquisition of Greenland was “absolutely not necessary”.

But Trump continued to situation barely veiled threats, making references to the toppling of the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, within the fast aftermath of the diplomatic talks.

“Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark,” he stated. “And the problem is there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do. You found that out last week with Venezuela.”