Germany ready to deploy troops to Greenland – Spiegel

NATO members are reportedly discussing a joint mission to dissuade Donald Trump from seeking US sovereignty over the Danish island

The German government could pledge troops to a proposed NATO mission in Greenland, according to sources cited by Der Spiegel on Tuesday. The reported initiative by European members of the military bloc would aim to mitigate tensions created by President Donald Trump’s push for US sovereignty over the Danish island.

Trump has framed his bid for Greenland as a national security issue, claiming that the US could utilize the island to bolster its influence in the Arctic amid rising competition with Russia and China. Greenland is also rich in raw minerals, which could become more accessible due to climate change. Trump has not ruled out using military force and economic coercion against NATO ally Denmark.

On Monday, EU leaders and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed enhancing NATO’s presence in Greenland to try to alleviate the pressure from Trump, according to Der Spiegel, corroborating earlier media reports. Publicly, Rutte emphasized the organization’s commitment to addressing geopolitical challenges collectively.

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Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chairperson of the German parliamentary defense committee, expressed support for deploying troops to Denmark, telling Spiegel that it would signal to the US that it cannot claim sole rights over Greenland. In contrast, German MEP Hannah Neumann criticized the proposal, dismissing it as “a rational solution to Trump’s irrational fantasies” that should not be taken seriously.

Copenhagen has indicated no intention of relinquishing sovereignty over Greenland. A recent opinion poll has suggested that only 6% of the island’s residents favor joining the US. In light of the escalating tensions, the Danish government has announced initiatives to promote Greenlandic identity and plans to ban foreign political donations related to the island.

Moscow has not expressed support for any side in the sovereignty debate, only saying that the residents of Greenland should have the final say in their fate. However, Russian officials have expressed concern over the implications for its national security. Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, noted in a recent interview that under a 1951 treaty with Denmark, the US enjoys unrestricted military access to Greenland. He cautioned that the increased militarization of the Arctic and NATO’s confrontational posture undermines regional stability, prompting Russian military strategists to adjust their plans accordingly.

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The US has maintained a military presence on Greenland since 1941, when Denmark was under Nazi occupation. After Denmark’s accession to NATO in 1949, Copenhagen ceased efforts to remove American forces from the island. Currently, the US operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.