Trouble over Arctic island: Germany sends Bundeswehr troopers to Greenland | EUROtoday

In view of the USA’s takeover threats, the Bundeswehr is sending an exploration staff to Greenland. The deployment was made on the invitation of Denmark and aimed, along with representatives of different NATO companions, to “explore framework conditions for possible military contributions to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region,” defined the Federal Ministry of Defense.

A transport airplane will deliver 13 Bundeswehr members to the Greenland capital Nuuk on Thursday morning. Germany will participate in a fact-finding mission “at the invitation of Denmark” between January fifteenth and seventeenth.

The purpose of the Bundeswehr mission is to “explore the framework conditions for possible military contributions to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region, for example for maritime surveillance capabilities,” stated the Defense Ministry.

It confirmed a report by “Bild”. Norway will ship two troopers as a part of larger NATO cooperation, Defense Minister Tore Sandvik informed Reuters. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Platform X that some Swedish officers would arrive in Greenland on Wednesday.

At Denmark’s request, France can be sending troopers to Greenland, which is claimed by the USA. President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Platform X that the primary navy personnel have been on the best way. “More will follow.” Macron spoke of “joint exercises” that Denmark had organized and which have been referred to as “Operation Arctic Endurance”.

Greens welcome Bundeswehr mission in Greenland

The Greens welcome the Bundeswehr’s deployment of an exploration staff to Greenland. “This is a strong symbol,” stated protection skilled Sara Nanni to the “Rheinische Post”. The talks in Washington didn’t result in US President Donald Trump giving up his territorial claims.

“It would therefore be important that this military gesture of solidarity with Denmark be complemented by tangible diplomatic threats to the White House. Only then can Trump be stopped from his madness,” stated Nanni. Chancellor Friedrich Merz should make it clear that there can be penalties for the USA if it continued to undermine cohesion in NATO by questioning the territorial integrity of a member state.

The disaster talks between the USA, Denmark and Greenland didn’t deliver an answer to the battle over the Arctic island. There stays a “fundamental difference of opinion” between the events, stated Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen after the assembly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance, which was additionally attended by Vivian Motzfeldt, the minister answerable for Greenland’s overseas coverage.

Trump needs to proceed to “conquer” Greenland. Denmark and the USA nonetheless have “different positions” on the purpose. Rasmussen urged NATO accomplice USA to “respectfully cooperate”. He emphasised {that a} takeover of Greenland by the USA was completely not needed.

US President Donald Trump had already made it clear earlier than the hour-long dialog in a US authorities constructing close to the White House that he wouldn’t deviate a millimeter from his territorial declare. Anything apart from a Greenland within the fingers of the United States is “unacceptable,” Trump wrote on his mouthpiece Truth Social.

Rasmussen stated they traveled to Washington after “a series of, shall I say, remarkable public statements on the security of Greenland and the Arctic.” “Our goal was to find a common way to increase this security.”

It was agreed to type a high-level working group to see if a standard path could possibly be discovered that takes into consideration each American safety pursuits and the Kingdom of Denmark’s purple traces, Rasmussen stated. This working group ought to meet for the primary time inside weeks.

Trump stays robust

In latest days, Trump has repeatedly justified his declare with safety points and a risk from Russia and China. The US authorities had not dominated out taking the island by drive.

Belonging to NATO just isn’t enough safety – neither for Greenland nor the USA, Trump wrote earlier than the assembly. Greenland is important for the development of the deliberate “Golden Dome” missile protection, and NATO ought to subsequently pave the best way for a US takeover of the island, Trump wrote. In capital letters he threatened that in any other case China or Russia would do that. He will stop that. Trump had repeatedly referred to the rising presence of Russian and Chinese ships within the area.

China specifically is a priority for Western militaries. The commander in chief of NATO forces in Europe, Alexus G. Grynkewich, an American, lately stated about attainable threats from China that the nation is changing into more and more aggressive, particularly within the far north. The Chinese despatched analysis ships to the area, which then presumably carried out navy explorations beneath a scientific guise. During the newest ice-free season, ships stayed off the north coast of Alaska for a very very long time. There are additionally joint patrols with the Russians.

Denmark elevated its navy presence in Greenland on Wednesday with assist from Sweden and Norway. This is completed within the context of navy workouts with plane, ships and troopers – and in shut cooperation with NATO allies, stated an announcement from the Foreign Ministry and the Greenland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Research.

During a press convention, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, when requested how the navy would reply to an assault, stated this was a “hypothetical” scenario. “But the order is that if you are attacked, you must defend the kingdom,” he stated.

So far, Trump has not let himself be dissuaded from his path. NATO can solely develop an efficient deterrent due to the USA, the US President wrote, including that this was due to the strengthening of the US armed forces throughout his first time period in workplace. NATO will likely be way more spectacular and efficient with a US-controlled Greenland.

The European Parliament condemned this and former Trump administration statements about Greenland as “unacceptable.” Any try to “undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland violates international law and the United Nations Charter,” the EU Parliament stated.