BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Troops from several European countries continued arriving in Greenland on Thursday in a coordinated show of support for Denmark, as sharp differences emerged between Copenhagen and Washington over the future of the strategically vital Arctic island. The deployments coincided with high-level talks involving representatives from Denmark, Greenland and the United States that exposed what Danish officials described as a “fundamental disagreement” over U.S. intentions.
That divide became more pronounced when the White House characterized upcoming discussions as “technical talks on the acquisition agreement” related to a potential U.S. takeover of Greenland. Danish officials strongly rejected that framing, saying the talks were meant to explore ways to manage security concerns while preserving Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the discussions were intended to function as a working group focused on addressing American security interests in the Arctic without crossing what he called Denmark’s nonnegotiable boundaries. Speaking after meetings in Washington, Rasmussen stressed that Denmark remained committed to dialogue but made clear that Greenland was not a bargaining chip.
Ahead of the talks, Denmark announced it would increase its military presence on the island, a move quickly echoed by several European partners. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands either began deploying small contingents of troops or pledged to do so in the coming days. The deployments were largely symbolic, aimed at demonstrating European unity and underscoring that NATO allies already possess the collective capacity to safeguard Arctic security amid growing Russian and Chinese interest in the region.
The show of solidarity did little to alter President Donald Trump’s stance. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the arrival of European troops had no bearing on the president’s thinking.
“The president has made his priority quite clear,” Leavitt said. “He wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He believes it is in America’s best national security interest.”
Rasmussen, appearing alongside Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said after their White House meetings that the core disagreement remained unresolved. He said it was “clear that the president has this wish of taking over Greenland,” but added that Denmark and Greenland would continue high-level talks with U.S. officials in the coming weeks.
European military movements accelerated as the diplomatic standoff unfolded. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that initial French military units were already en route to Greenland, with additional forces to follow. French officials said roughly 15 soldiers from a mountain infantry unit had arrived in Nuuk to take part in scheduled exercises.
Germany confirmed it was dispatching a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel, while Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the broader goal was to establish a more permanent and robust military presence through rotating deployments by several NATO countries.
Poulsen described the buildup as a precautionary step in an increasingly unpredictable security environment. He said Denmark was acting in close coordination with allies to ensure stability in the Arctic, emphasizing that aircraft, naval vessels and ground troops would all be part of the expanded posture.
The moves prompted sharp criticism from Moscow. Russia’s embassy in Brussels condemned what it called NATO’s “bellicose plans,” accusing Western nations of manufacturing threats to justify an expanded military footprint in the Arctic. The embassy said Russia favored keeping the region a zone of peace and cooperation and dismissed NATO’s actions as part of a broader anti-Russian and anti-Chinese agenda.
In Greenland and Denmark, reactions were mixed, marked by anxiety over U.S. intentions but also relief that negotiations were continuing and that European backing was becoming visible. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the continuation of diplomatic engagement while firmly rejecting any notion of U.S. ownership.
“Greenland is not for sale,” Nielsen said. “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States, governed from the United States, or become part of the United States.”
In Nuuk, residents said the initial round of talks answered few questions but were encouraged that Greenlandic representatives were now directly involved. Some viewed the arrival of European troops as reassurance against the possibility of unilateral U.S. action, even as military officials stressed that the deployments were not meant to deter Washington.
Maya Martinsen, a 21-year-old resident, said it was comforting to see Nordic and European allies stepping in. She argued that the dispute was less about security and more about Greenland’s untapped natural resources, including oil and critical minerals.
Despite the tension, Danish officials pointed to modest diplomatic progress. Poulsen said the creation of a working group was “better than no working group” and a step forward, though he cautioned that it did not mean the situation had stabilized. Lawmakers in Greenland echoed that sentiment, saying the most important development was Greenland’s direct representation at the negotiating table.
Juno Berthelsen, a lawmaker from the pro-independence Naleraq party, said cooperation with the United States could still be beneficial if it respected Greenlandic autonomy. He suggested U.S. involvement in building a Greenlandic coast guard could enhance security while creating local jobs.
During their Washington visit, Rasmussen and Motzfeldt also met with a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, seeking to reinforce ties with lawmakers wary of any move that could fracture NATO. Several members of Congress from both parties have expressed concern that aggressive pressure on Denmark could undermine the alliance and have urged the administration to pursue cooperative security arrangements instead.
On the streets of Copenhagen, some residents said they felt cautiously reassured by the diplomatic engagement but remained uneasy. “I don’t think the threat has gone away,” said Line McGee, a 38-year-old resident. “But I feel slightly better than I did yesterday.”
For his part, Trump struck a note of ambiguity when asked about the standoff. “We’ll see how it all works out,” he said. “I think something will work out.”
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