European Nato personnel have begun arriving in Greenland, with a small French military unit landing in the capital, Nuuk, amid renewed insistence by US President Donald Trump that Washington needs control of the vast Arctic territory.
Officials confirmed that France, alongside Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK, is taking part in what has been described as a reconnaissance-style deployment linked to Danish-led joint exercises. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the initial French presence would soon be strengthened with additional “land, air and sea assets”, underlining Europe’s commitment to the region.
According to senior French diplomat Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the operation carries clear political weight. “This is a first exercise,” he said. “It sends a message that Nato is present, and that matters.”
The French contingent currently numbers around 15 personnel. Their arrival came just hours after the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland travelled to Washington for talks with US Vice-President JD Vance.
Following that meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said discussions had been constructive but revealed a “fundamental disagreement” remained. He later criticised Trump’s continued suggestion that the US should acquire Greenland.
Despite that, Trump again pressed his case from the Oval Office, arguing that the island was essential for American national security. While stopping short of explicitly threatening military action, he suggested a deal with Denmark could still be possible.
“The reality is Denmark can’t stop Russia or China if they move in,” Trump said. “We can.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the European deployments as irrelevant to the administration’s position, saying they would have no impact on the president’s objective of acquiring Greenland.
Poland, however, has distanced itself from the operation. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw would not send troops, warning that any US military action against Greenland would be catastrophic.
“A conflict between Nato allies or an attempted annexation would destroy the security system that has protected us for decades,” he said.
Russia has also weighed in. Its embassy in Belgium accused Nato of increasing its Arctic military footprint under what it called a false narrative of threats from Moscow and Beijing, and said it was “seriously concerned” by recent developments.
In practice, the Nato presence remains limited. Only a few dozen personnel are involved, taking part in Danish-led exercises known as Operation Arctic Endurance. While symbolically significant, there has been no confirmation of how long the troops will remain.
Finland has sent two liaison officers to observe and gather information during what it described as an early planning phase. Janne Kuusela, head of defence policy at Finland’s defence ministry, said Helsinki was keeping its options open.
“As an Arctic nation, Finland has an interest in strengthening the defence of allied territory,” he told the BBC, pointing to broader concerns about Nato’s grip on Greenland.
Germany has deployed an A400M transport aircraft to Nuuk carrying 13 soldiers, though officials said the unit would remain only until Saturday.
Danish defence authorities said they had agreed with Greenland’s government to step up military activity around the island in the coming period, aiming to reinforce Nato’s Arctic presence in support of both European and transatlantic security.
In his New Year address to French armed forces, Macron stressed that Europe had a particular responsibility toward Greenland, noting that it belongs to the European Union’s wider political sphere and is part of the Nato alliance.
The United States already operates a military base in Greenland, staffed by up to 150 personnel, with the ability to deploy many more under existing agreements with Copenhagen. European officials see the current exercises as a signal to Washington that Arctic security is a shared responsibility.
Sweden confirmed it had sent army officers to Nuuk, while Norway, the UK and the Netherlands each contributed individual military representatives. Downing Street said the UK shared US concerns about security in the High North, citing the need to deter Russian and Chinese activity through enhanced training and exercises.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said protecting Greenland was a collective issue for the entire Nato alliance. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen added that the goal was a rotating military presence, with foreign allies regularly participating in training and exercises, potentially paving the way for a more permanent footprint.
Copenhagen continues to challenge Trump’s justification for seeking control of Greenland. Rasmussen said there was no immediate threat from China or Russia that Denmark and Greenland could not manage, though he acknowledged shared security concerns with Washington.
A delegation of Democratic lawmakers from the US is expected in Denmark on Friday for talks with Danish MPs.
Speaking after meetings in Washington with Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rasmussen made Denmark’s position clear. “This is 2026,” he said. “You trade with countries, not with people.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the situation as a geopolitical crisis and reiterated that Greenlanders do not want to become part of the United States.
“Greenland does not want to be owned, governed or absorbed by the US,” he said, adding that if forced to choose, Greenland would stand with Denmark.
