Why the Bundeswehr is now sending troopers to Greenland | EUROtoday

The German Ministry of Defense despatched a message on Wednesday night which will initially appear stunning: the Bundeswehr is sending round a dozen troopers and officers to Greenland. According to the assertion, the reconnaissance delegation was scheduled to land in Nuuk on the west coast of Greenland on Thursday in an Air Force A400M transporter. But what ought to the troopers do there, maybe fend off a attainable American assault? Hardly. Rather, it is about a mixture of symbolism and self-interest.

The symbolic nature of the deployment, which is going down on the invitation of Denmark along with European associate nations, is evident: one aim is to indicate US President Donald Trump that annexation of the realm would have complicated penalties. He had expressed a number of occasions that he wished to purchase the massive Arctic island for safety causes or deliver it underneath US management utilizing different means.

The Union’s protection coverage spokesman, Thomas Erndl (CSU), justified the deployment of Bundeswehr troopers with the “central importance” of Greenland for NATO’s safety within the Arctic. The goal of the exploration workforce was to look at how Denmark could possibly be supported “in expanding the security structures around Greenland”, he defined to the FAZ. The operation sends a transparent sign: “Security in the Arctic can only be achieved and ensured together” – as has been the profitable follow in NATO for many years. “We want to stick to this practice even in these turbulent times.”

The SPD international and protection politician Siemtje Möller summarized the Bundeswehr deployment on Thursday morning as follows: “This is an important sign of lived European solidarity.” Germany is thus taking duty and is actively collaborating in a typical European response to the safety coverage challenges within the Arctic. “We are making it clear that Europe is ready to take responsibility for its own security and act together.”

With her assertion, the previous Parliamentary State Secretary within the Ministry of Defense additionally factors to not less than one further core of the dedication: private duty. The occasions within the far north, the place, alongside the Russian Navy, China specifically is changing into more and more energetic and, for instance, stationing so-called analysis ships for noticeably lengthy intervals of time, are of curiosity to NATO as an alliance, but in addition to the United States and Europe.

And just like many elements of European and transatlantic safety, the United States acknowledged the turning level within the North Atlantic a lot earlier and, above all, reacted to it. Seven years in the past – the Europeans had been nonetheless in a deep protection coverage slumber – the US Navy’s Second Fleet was reactivated, whose space of ​​operations extends from the American east coast all the best way as much as the Arctic. Their job is, amongst different issues, to dam the best way to the US coast for Russian models, particularly Russian submarines, within the occasion of rigidity or warfare. In addition, US provides throughout the Atlantic to Europe ought to be secured, with out which defending the jap flank can be very troublesome, not less than in the mean time.

The Second Fleet, a key pillar of U.S. naval forces within the Cold War, was decommissioned in 2011, the yr Germany suspended conscription. Unlike earlier than, the present US fleet not has a set stock of ships. But in NATO maneuvers, for instance on the northern coast of Norway, it has since performed a key function with massive, together with amphibious models. A Maritime Operations Center was arrange on Iceland in September 2019 to coordinate American fleet actions. At the identical time, the United States is transferring ahead with constructing ice-capable warships, which Russia can be persistently pursuing.

During all this time, the European armed forces initially had little to supply to guard their northern waters and thus additionally contribute to the safety of the United States in a key strategic area. Canada has additionally criminally uncared for its maritime capabilities; Its submarine capabilities at present consist of 4 outdated models that had been retired from the British Navy greater than thirty years in the past and bought to Ottawa at a discount worth. Canada is at present contemplating becoming a member of a present German-Norwegian submarine mission. This can be why Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) was there within the fall.

Germany has been reacting in a different way to the altering challenges for a while now. Since the Bundeswehr took half in a significant NATO train in Norway in brigade energy for the primary time in 2018 with “Trident Juncture”, expertise and workout routines have been steadily elevated. German troopers, together with mountain troops and marines, now commonly participate in maneuvers resembling “Nordic Response” or “Cold Response”, navy models have been despatched to the Arctic Ocean to shoot missiles, and the ocean battalion is working towards along with the Dutch navy within the northern Norwegian mountain and Arctic area to be used in amphibious operations.

Also new is the willingness to make the Navy’s new P-8A maritime patrol plane and submarine hunters obtainable for missions within the far north. Pistorius has concluded agreements with Great Britain and most lately Iceland so as to have the ability to briefly station American-made German plane there. “We are ready to take on more responsibility for stability and security here in the far north. The German Navy will use its frigates, submarines and the new maritime patrol aircraft to provide situational awareness in the North Atlantic,” mentioned Pistorius in October 2025 throughout a go to to the Icelandic capital Reykjavik.

In addition, nearer cooperation was agreed, particularly within the space of ​​maritime logistics. According to Pistorius on the time, the Bundeswehr wished to have a strategically necessary contact level for its fight ships, submarines and provide ships within the far north.

All of this reveals a well-thought-out dedication that’s far much less action-oriented than the present deployment to Greenland would possibly counsel. The Navy, historically at residence within the Baltic and North Seas, has lengthy since expanded its actions into the area, even so far as Greenland: In the summer time of 2025, the operational group provider Berlin visited Greenland for the primary time in fifty years and demonstrated its presence within the North Atlantic as a part of the NATO train “Atlantic Bear”. At that point, nonetheless, it was about working along with Americans and Canadians to observe Arctic waters so as to safe jap entry to the Northwest Passage between Canada and Greenland.

An advance guard of fifteen French troopers additionally arrived in Nuuk on Thursday evening. French Army Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon confirmed on Thursday that French troopers are participating in Operation Arctic Endurance organized by Denmark. The French are troopers from mountain models who’re used to chilly climates. More troopers ought to observe, President Emmanuel Macron introduced on Platform X.

On Thursday morning he known as an emergency assembly of the Defense Council on the Élysée Palace to determine on the deployment of fabric and troops. The conferences are secret, however Macron plans to handle most people on the conventional New Year’s needs to the military within the afternoon. The goal is to indicate Washington that NATO is current in Greenland, defined the French Ambassador for the Poles and the Oceans, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor.

The plan to help Denmark and Greenland with maneuvers by European NATO members was hatched by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and French President Macron at their dinner on January sixth within the Élysée Palace. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was additionally knowledgeable of the plans. The goal is to extend consciousness of NATO’s protecting function on the island and thus rebut the American president’s argument that Greenland’s safety has been uncared for.

According to the federal government spokeswoman, Macron responded decisively to Trump’s threats on the cupboard assembly on Wednesday. If the sovereignty of a European and allied nation had been affected, the ensuing penalties can be unprecedented, mentioned Macron. France is following the scenario with the best consideration and can take its measures in full solidarity with Denmark.

Denmark had already flown some troopers and technical materials to Greenland on Monday as a type of advance guard for the next troops. On Wednesday, the identical day that Denmark’s international minister and his Greenlandic counterpart in Washington had been wrestling over the way forward for the dominion, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen introduced that Denmark had determined, in shut coordination with Greenland, to determine a everlasting army presence with a bigger Danish contribution and to extend train actions on the island.

Foreign allies are invited to take part within the train and coaching actions. “From today and in the coming period there will be an increased presence of aircraft, ships and soldiers,” mentioned Poulsen. Sweden and Norway additionally introduced that they might ship some troopers.

A press launch from the Danish Defense Ministry continued that the goal was to coach the flexibility to function within the particular Arctic situations in shut cooperation with NATO allies and to strengthen the alliance’s presence within the Arctic. The workout routines could subsequently embody guarding services which can be vital to the inhabitants, supporting the authorities in Greenland, together with the police, internet hosting allied troops, deploying fight plane in and round Greenland, and conducting maritime army missions.

The elevated army presence is “a clear response to the challenge facing the Arctic,” mentioned Poulsen. In the Defense Ministry’s assertion, the deployment is justified by the truth that safety tensions have unfold to the Arctic. However, Danish specialists don’t at present see an acute Chinese or Russian menace round Greenland, as claimed by the US administration. Foreign Minister Rasmussen mentioned on Wednesday that no Chinese warship had been noticed there for round a decade.

In truth, the troop growth is more likely to be primarily a response to criticism from Washington that Denmark is just not able to securing Greenland. So far, Denmark has solely stationed a couple of troopers on Greenland, a few of whom are additionally devoted to duties that the coast guard takes on elsewhere. Defense Minister Poulsen mentioned on Thursday that the troopers can be on Greenland in a type of rotation system. The scope and length of the operation are nonetheless unclear. Poulsen didn’t reply the query of whether or not the deployment was additionally a sign to the US administration.