Amid increasing pressure from Washington, European NATO allies have begun an urgent deployment of military forces to Greenland. France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada are sending their military personnel and equipment to the island at the invitation of Copenhagen. The mission, dubbed "Operation Arctic Guardian," is officially aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and conducting maritime surveillance. However, experts believe this is also an attempt by Europe to safeguard the territorial interests of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Concerns in European capitals have grown following repeated statements by Donald Trump regarding the need for control over Greenland. The U.S. President has once again raised the issue of purchasing the island and even hinted at the possibility of using force, emphasizing that it is crucial for the security of the United States. The situation escalated on January 12, when a bill was presented in the U.S. Congress regarding the potential annexation of Greenland and granting it the status of an American state. Washington justifies its actions by the need to counter the growing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic.
In response to these threats, the Bundeswehr has already sent specialists to Nuuk to assess the possibilities of military involvement, and Sweden and France have also deployed their teams of officers. Berlin is actively promoting the initiative to create a permanent NATO mission in the Arctic, similar to the "Baltic Guardian." The head of the Greenland government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has officially stated the island's unwillingness to become part of the U.S., choosing Denmark as its ally. Despite Greenland's broad internal autonomy, defense matters remain under the jurisdiction of Copenhagen, which now must demonstrate to Washington its ability to protect Arctic borders alongside its allies.
