Denmark has proposed that NATO deploy reconnaissance activities in Greenland, a move acknowledged by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "We have proposed that NATO deploy reconnaissance activities in Greenland. Secretary General Mark Rutte has acknowledged this, and I believe we can now hope to establish a framework to make this proposal a reality," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated on 19/1.
This proposal comes as US President Donald Trump is severely testing the alliance by threatening to gain control of Greenland "one way or another." European nations are united in countering Washington's efforts regarding this strategic island. German and French leaders last weekend condemned Trump for threatening tariffs against countries supporting Denmark on the Greenland issue, describing it as "blackmail."
Secretary General Rutte confirmed discussions with Denmark's defense minister and Greenland's top foreign affairs official regarding "the importance of the Arctic, including Greenland, for our common security." He added, "We will continue to cooperate as allies on these important matters."
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson supported the idea of a NATO operation, suggesting it "could be the right direction." This aligns with President Trump's assertion that more must be done to counter "the threat from China and Russia" to Greenland. "We are considering the most constructive ways to contribute to the alliance's efforts to enhance its presence in the Arctic region," Jonson stated after a meeting of Nordic ministers at NATO headquarters in Belgium.
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Danish soldiers arrive in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, on 18/1. Photo: AFP |
Danish soldiers arrive in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, on 18/1. Photo: AFP
Speaking during a visit to Norway on 18/1, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated that "the global geopolitical order and NATO's future are facing a risky situation" due to Trump's threats. The NATO secretary general announced on the same day that he had discussed the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic with President Trump.
Last week, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland deployed troops to Greenland as part of the "Arctic Endurance" exercise. The participating countries subsequently issued a joint statement emphasizing that the exercise was pre-planned and posed no threat to anyone.
Meanwhile, the White House declared that European forces in Greenland cannot prevent the US from executing its plan to control the territory.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
