Denmark dispatched more than 100 combat soldiers to Greenland Monday as President Trump intensified efforts to acquire the autonomous Danish territory.
The Danish Armed Forces described the troop deployment as “a substantial contribution” for the defense of Greenland and signaled that it’s unrelated to Trump’s desire for the Arctic island, according to Danish broadcaster TV2.
“My focus is not toward the US, not at all. My focus is on Russia,” Denmark’s top military commander in the Arctic, Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, told Reuters last week.
The soldiers, positioned in the capital city of Nuuk and in the town of Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland, will take part in NATO military training exercises, dubbed “Arctic Endurance.”
Danish Army Chief Peter Boysen told TV2 that he expects military exercises in Greenland to continue on a “more permanent” basis.
“I think the exercise business will become more permanent, and I think we’ll see greater participation from our allies,” Boysen said.
The Army chief downplayed the idea that having a permanent troop presence on the island would provoke Trump.
“I think it’s fair that we have a task within the framework of both NATO and nationally, and then we take up and practice,” Boysen explained.
He added, “We are practicing how to defend Greenland. Among other things, we are practicing the sharp confrontations we could face.”
“We can defend ourselves.”
Asked about a hypothetical hostile confrontation with US troops, Boysen responded: “That’s speculative, and I won’t go into that.”
Anderson noted that the US was invited to participate in Arctic Endurance.
“We had a meeting today with a lot of NATO partners, including the US, and invited them to participate in this exercise,” he said.
The military exercise was requested by Denmark in response to Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland.
In an eyebrow-raising move, German troops quietly packed up and left the island on Sunday — just two days after arriving for the training.
Meanwhile, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that American and Canadian military aircraft “will soon arrive” at Pituffik Space Base — run by US Space Force — in Greenland.
“[T]hey will support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring defense cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark,” NORAD said in a statement. “This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces operate with the requisite diplomatic clearances.
“The Government of Greenland is also informed of planned activities.”
NORAD noted that it “routinely conducts sustained, dispersed operations in the defense of North America.”
Trump warned Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre via text message recently that he doesn’t “feel an obligation to think purely of Peace” after he missed out on last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, raising concern that he may try to annex Greenland.
Trump’s message came one day after he threatened additional 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK unless Copenhagen agreed to the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
