European Troops Land in Greenland Amid US-Denmark Standoff

Troops from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden began arriving in Greenland's capital Nuuk on Thursday. This follows talks on Wednesday in Washington between Denmark, Greenland and US officials that ended without agreement. Denmark invited the troops to help with security on the mineral-rich Arctic island, as US President Donald Trump keeps pushing for American control.

Background

Greenland sits in the Arctic Ocean and belongs to Denmark as an autonomous territory. It has large deposits of rare minerals needed for batteries and electronics. The US sees it as key for national security because of its position near Russia and China. President Trump has talked about taking over Greenland many times. He says it would protect American interests in the far north.

Last year, Denmark already stepped up military exercises there with help from NATO partners. In summer 2025, forces from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway joined Danish troops for training. They practiced protecting key sites like ports and power plants. These efforts aimed to get better at working in cold Arctic conditions.

Trump brought up Greenland again after taking office. On January 3, he ordered a quick military action in Venezuela that removed President Nicolás Maduro. This made him seem stronger on foreign policy. Soon after, he said the US should control Greenland, no matter what Denmark thinks. Denmark and Greenland pushed back hard. They want to keep things as they are but with more allied support.

Wednesday's meeting at the White House involved Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Greenland's representatives, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump did not join them. The talks lasted hours but changed nothing. Rasmussen left saying the sides still disagree on basics.

Key Details

The first European troops landed in Nuuk hours after the Washington meeting. France sent soldiers right away. President Emmanuel Macron said on social media that more would come soon. Germany's defense ministry announced a team of 13 soldiers from the Bundeswehr. They will stay in Nuuk from Thursday to Sunday to check things out. Norway and Sweden also confirmed they are sending small groups for the same mission.

Greenland's Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede spoke to reporters on Wednesday. He said NATO soldiers would show up more often starting now. Expect more military planes and ships in the area. The troops plan to do training exercises.

"Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships," Greenland's Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede told a news conference.

Denmark's military is expanding its work there too. From now on, more planes, ships and ground forces will operate around Greenland. This includes Danish units and allies. The goal is to guard important spots, help local police if needed, and host more foreign troops. Fighter jets might fly patrols, and ships could sail nearby waters.

These steps build on 2025 activities. Back then, mixed forces trained on land, sea and air. They focused on keeping infrastructure safe. Denmark's defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said the country wants to keep improving with partners.

Local Reactions in Nuuk

People in Nuuk flew Greenland's red-and-white flags from homes, shops and cars this week. It showed support for staying independent. But some locals feel worried. The island has about 56,000 people, and sudden global attention brings stress.

Vera Stidsen, a 51-year-old teacher, shared her thoughts.

"It's very frightening because it's such a big thing," said Vera Stidsen, 51, a teacher in Nuuk. "I hope that in the future we can continue to live as we have until now: in peace and without being disturbed."

Greenland's government plans to keep locals updated through the Joint Arctic Command. They want close talks with police and other groups.

After the meeting, Trump spoke to reporters. He sounded milder than before. He praised his ties with Denmark and said something would work out. But he repeated that Denmark could not stop Russia or China from moving in if they wanted. He did not rule out any steps.

Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen was blunt outside the White House.

"We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear the president has this wish of conquering Greenland," Løkke told reporters. "We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree."

Rasmussen added that a US takeover is not needed.

What This Means

The troop arrivals mark a clear show of support for Denmark and Greenland. European nations want to prove they can help defend the area without the US taking over. The mission is called Arctic Endurance. It stays small for now to avoid big fights with Washington. But it sends a message: NATO allies stand ready.

Denmark and Greenland see this as part of their NATO duties. They aim to build skills for Arctic threats. More exercises in 2026 could mean steady allied presence. This might include year-round patrols and joint operations.

For the US, Greenland matters for bases and watching rivals. The US already has Thule Air Base there, used for missiles and space tracking. Trump argues full control would make defense easier.

Locals worry about their quiet life changing. Fishing and hunting are main jobs. Military buildup could bring jobs but also noise and risks. Greenland wants a say in its future, including deals on minerals.

European moves might push talks forward. Denmark hopes more partners will make the US back off. Greenland's foreign affairs minister, Vivan Motzfeldt, stressed working with Arctic and European allies.

“As part of the NATO alliance, it is a core priority for the Government of Greenland, that defence and security in and around Greenland are strengthened, and that this is achieved in close cooperation with our NATO allies,” said Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research Vivan Motzfeldt.

Denmark's defense minister echoed that. He said Arctic security affects the whole kingdom and its friends.

The next days will show how big this gets. More troops arrive soon. Macron plans to give details in a speech to French forces. Watch for flights and ships near Greenland. Both sides say they want peace, but the Arctic feels more crowded now.