France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands have deployed or pledged fewer than 40 troops in total to Greenland, in a coordinated European show of presence on the Arctic island as political friction with Washington intensifies.
European officials say the limited deployment is designed to support Danish-led exercises and reconnaissance missions in Greenland’s harsh Arctic environment, while underscoring that the island is part of a NATO member state and not up for negotiation. France has sent around 15 mountain infantry specialists, Germany has dispatched a 13-strong reconnaissance team, and smaller detachments are being contributed by Norway, Sweden, the UK, Finland and the Netherlands.
Danish and Greenlandic leaders announced plans this week to expand their own military presence “in and around Greenland” in close cooperation with allies, following talks in Washington that exposed “fundamental disagreements” with President Donald Trump over his push to bring the resource-rich island under U.S. control. European leaders frame the deployment as a defensive move aimed at deterrence and solidarity rather than provocation, stressing that any armed attempt to seize Greenland would raise unprecedented questions for NATO’s collective defense commitments.
