European countries send troops to Greenland as tensions between the US and Denmark grow

Germany and other European countries have begun sending troops to Greenland in the wake of the escalating situation surrounding US President Donald Trump's announcement of the United States' intention to acquire the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

According to DPA, an A400M military transport aircraft arrived in the Greenlandic capital Nuuk with a preliminary team of German specialists. The German defence ministry announced on Wednesday evening that it was sending a total of 13 Bundeswehr personnel to the island to analyse „framework conditions for a possible military contribution to support Denmark in providing security in the region“.

The Bild newspaper reported that the first European soldiers have already arrived on the island. A Danish military transport plane landed at Nuuk airport last night with Danish soldiers and representatives of the French armed forces on board. At the same time, another Danish Hercules aircraft landed at Kangerlussuaq in the west of the island. Both aircraft flew with their transponders switched off. The first German troops are due to arrive in Nuuk on Thursday morning.

In addition to Germany and Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are also participating in the mission. The operation is coordinated from Copenhagen, not through NATO, although all the countries involved are members of the alliance. Preparations have been conducted in strict secrecy and the deployment of troops came only after talks between Danish, Greenlandic and US officials in Washington collapsed on Wednesday.

On 14 January, US President Donald Trump reiterated that the United States remains committed to Greenland, despite Denmark's opposition. He said that the island was crucial to the national security of the US and Europe and that Russia and China might otherwise be interested in it. Trump also confirmed that he had already discussed the issue with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The tension was further heightened by statements from the Danish Ministry of Defence. Its spokesman Tobias Roed Jensen said that the Danish army was obliged to return fire if the United States launched an armed attack on Greenland. He referred to a 1952 royal decree which allows defensive operations to be launched immediately without waiting for a political decision.

Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl told TASS that Denmark has already hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from NATO if Washington switches from rhetoric to the use of force. She described the situation as „archaic“ and compared it to the practices of the colonial era or even to the behaviour of Viking raiders.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. In 1951, the United States and Denmark signed the Greenland Defence Agreement as part of their NATO commitments, under which the US undertook to defend the island against possible aggression. However, recent developments are putting these commitments to an unprecedented test.

gnews.cz - GH