Denmark announces expansion of military presence in Greenland

Denmark is holding talks with its allies “on new and increased activities in 2026” regarding Greenland, Lund Poulsen added. However, Trump brushed off the Europeans’ push to strengthen the NATO presence off the table in the Arctic. NATO membership of the territory in the North Atlantic that belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark is not sufficient protection for Greenland. Anything other than the US annexing Greenland would be “unacceptable,” Trump wrote in his mouthpiece Truth Social.

“The United States needs Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump wrote. It is elementary for the construction of the planned Golden Dome missile defense. NATO should therefore prepare the way for a US takeover of the island, Trump continued. In capital letters he wrote: “IF WE DON’T DO IT, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL DO IT, AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN!”

NATO can only develop an effective deterrent thanks to the USA, Trump wrote, adding that this was thanks to the strengthening of the US armed forces during his first term in office. NATO will be far more impressive and effective with Greenland in US hands, the Republican continued.

French Consulate in Greenland

France will open a consulate in Greenland in the face of US claims. The representation should start work on February 6th, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told broadcaster RTL on Wednesday. The US must stop blackmailing Greenland and demanding control of the world’s largest island, said Barrot. The plans for the consulate have been in existence since last year.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also rejected Washington’s Greenland policy. “Greenland belongs to its people,” said von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday. Only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters that concern Denmark and Greenland, she emphasized. Security in the Arctic is a “core issue” for NATO, argued von der Leyen. NATO is the right place to “bring together the different interests that exist.” At the same time, Arctic security is also an issue for the EU. Brussels has therefore invested a lot in relations with Greenland in recent years. “We respect the wishes and interests of Greenlanders and they can count on us,” reiterated von der Leyen.

Trump won’t let up

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly renewed US ownership of Greenland and justified this with US security interests in the Arctic. There was talk of buying the island, but Trump did not rule out the use of military force. The autonomous region of Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, which, like the USA, is a member of NATO.

The Danish and Greenlandic governments strongly reject the US takeover plans. On Wednesday, Denmark’s chief diplomat Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic colleague Vivian Motzfeldt will meet at the White House for talks with US Vice President James Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As the Greenlandic news and media portal “Sermitsiaq” reported online, another meeting between the two sides is planned for the end of the week. Eight senators, including two Republican senators and three members of the US Congress, are expected to meet on Friday or Saturday with the Greenland Committee of the Danish Parliament and members of the Foreign and Security Policy Committee of the Greenlandic Parliament (Inatsisartut).

Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark and therefore part of the NATO alliance. Trump had already shown interest in acquiring the huge, resource-rich island during his first term in office.

Resistance also in the US Parliament

The Trump administration is also facing headwinds in the US Congress. A bill in the US Senate would prohibit it from annexing, occupying or otherwise controlling the territory of a NATO country without the consent of the affected ally. The bill was introduced by moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. It was initially unclear whether the bill had a realistic chance of being passed by a majority in the Senate and then in the House of Representatives.

With regard to Trump’s request to annex Greenland, the two senators said: “Such an approach would contradict the North Atlantic Treaty, weaken NATO’s cohesion and undermine the alliance’s existing efforts to counter the threat from adversaries such as Russia and China.”