The move comes as Trump on Monday declined to say whether he would consider using force to acquire the Danish territory, while affirming he would “100 percent” impose tariffs on goods from eight European countries that sent military personnel to Greenland.
Trump's comments and the deployment of troops were part of a growing standoff following the start of NATO-aligned military exercises on the island.
Denmark’s armed forces said the operation, dubbed Arctic Endurance, aims to bolster NATO’s northern flank.
According to Danish broadcaster TV2, Gen. Peter Boysen, head of Denmark’s land forces, also traveled to Greenland—a move viewed locally as highly unusual.
Sweden, Norway, France, Britain and Germany have also contributed officers, though German troops left after two days, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint US-Canadian military organization, said it had dispatched aircraft to its base in Pituffik, Greenland, as part of previously planned activity coordinated with Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
EU and NATO leaders responded with concern.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in Davos that the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland must be respected.
“It is essential for our transatlantic relations,” she said.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called for a strong European reaction to Trump's threats. “Otherwise, we risk showing weakness,” he said.
Trump has proposed a 10-percent tariff beginning February 1, rising to 25 percent in June, unless an agreement is reached on Greenland.
The threatened countries include Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
In Brussels, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss a potential alliance mission in Greenland and the Arctic.
“The Arctic is crucial for our security,” Rutte said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed that sentiment, saying on X: "Arctic security is a shared transatlantic interest, and one we can discuss with our US allies. But tariff threats are not the way to go about this. Sovereignty is not for trade."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he does not believe Trump is planning military action against Greenland, but called the tariff threats unacceptable, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb also dismissed the possibility of a US military seizure, though he noted Trump could link the Greenland issue to the conflict in Ukraine.
In protest, Greenland’s national sled dog federation announced it had rescinded an invitation to Jeff Landry, Trump’s envoy to the island.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP, Polish Radio