Several NATO members are sending small numbers of troops to Greenland this week for a joint military exercise, following tense White House talks over U.S. interest in annexing the island.
Denmark confirmed the deployments alongside Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway, following Washington meetings between Danish and Greenlandic officials, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen cited a “fundamental disagreement” with the United States but described the talks as “frank but constructive.” The three countries also agreed to form a high-level working group on Greenland’s future.
Denmark said it will expand its military presence in and around Greenland, with activities expected to include infrastructure protection, fighter jet deployments, and naval operations. Germany will send a 13-member reconnaissance team to Nuuk to assess potential security contributions, including maritime surveillance.
France and Sweden also confirmed participation in the Danish-led exercise, known as “Operation Arctic Endurance,” as Denmark’s prime minister said the defense of Greenland is a shared NATO responsibility.
