Germany and European countries send troops to Greenland in new news about Arctic tensions

Four European nations—Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway—confirmed the deployment of military contingents to Greenland in mid-January 2026. The initiative arose in response to increasing American diplomatic pressure on the territory, turning the Arctic region into a focal point of international negotiations.

European military offensive coordinated by Denmark

Germany’s Ministry of Defense announced that the soldiers will participate in a reconnaissance mission aimed at assessing potential contributions to regional stability. France took a prominent stance, with President Emmanuel Macron naming the operation “Opération Endurance Arctique” (Arctic Endurance Operation). The French contingents began immediate deployment, reinforcing European commitment. As the only European Union member with nuclear arsenal, France’s involvement amplifies the political and strategic weight of the mobilization.

Denmark, historically responsible for Greenland’s defense, formally requested military reinforcement. In addition to European support, Copenhagen announced additional exercises within its territory and surrounding areas, in coordination with NATO partners. According to the Danish Defense Agency, the goal is to “strengthen NATO’s presence in the region and improve operational capacity under the extreme weather conditions of the Arctic, for the benefit of European and transatlantic security.”

Trump reaffirms strategic ambitions and questions European capability

U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his statements questioning the effectiveness of European defense without U.S. participation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that NATO fundamentally depends on American military power and that the organization would become “much more formidable” if Greenland were under U.S. control. The Republican characterized any other scenario as “unacceptable,” signaling that the issue remains a priority on the American geopolitical agenda.

Ongoing diplomatic negotiations without immediate consensus

Danish and Greenlandic authorities attended the White House the same week for negotiations with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although the meeting was described as “frank and constructive,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen emphasized that a “fundamental disagreement” persists between the parties.

Rasmussen reaffirmed that proposals disrespecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination are “completely unacceptable.” Both sides agreed to establish a high-level working group to continue discussions, with a new meeting scheduled for a few weeks later. The situation reflects the deadlock between America’s determination to expand its Arctic influence and Europe’s firm stance on maintaining regional stability under the existing international legal framework.