Several European NATO member states, including Germany, Sweden and Norway, have begun deploying military personnel to Greenland in a coordinated show of support for Denmark, as US President Donald Trump escalates public threats to annex the Arctic territory.
CNN and Reuters and a host of other international news media are reporting that the deployments, described as small and largely symbolic, come amid growing concern within Europe that Trump’s statements could undermine the legal and political foundations of NATO by raising the unprecedented prospect of one alliance member forcibly taking territory associated with another.
Denmark, which retains responsibility for Greenland’s defense and foreign affairs, announced this week that it was expanding its military presence on the island “in close cooperation with NATO allies.” Danish officials have warned that any attack on Greenland would amount to a fundamental breach of the alliance’s core principles and could effectively end NATO as it currently exists.
Germany confirmed it is sending a 13-member reconnaissance team to Greenland at Denmark’s invitation. In a statement, the German Defense Ministry said the personnel would participate in an “exploration mission” alongside other allied forces as part of joint preparations in the Arctic.
Sweden also deployed an unspecified number of troops on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Swedish officers would join allied personnel preparing for an upcoming multinational exercise known as Operation Arctic Endurance. France and Norway have likewise confirmed their participation, with Norway sending two defense personnel and French President Emmanuel Macron announcing that French units are already en route.
While NATO countries routinely conduct joint exercises across member territories, the timing and political context of these deployments are highly unusual. Trump has repeatedly suggested the United States should take control of Greenland, including by force if necessary. During a recent press conference, he said he was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” and later wrote on Truth Social that “anything less” than US control of the island was “unacceptable.”
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is not a sovereign state but is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, making it indirectly covered by NATO’s collective defense framework. Under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all—a legal principle that makes Trump’s rhetoric particularly alarming to European governments.
Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has sought to play down immediate fears, calling the idea of a US attack on Greenland “completely hypothetical.” Nevertheless, he acknowledged that it would be “unlikely” and legally incompatible with NATO obligations for one alliance member to attack another.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions are ongoing. Danish and Greenlandic officials met on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, just hours after Trump reiterated his position on Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the talks were “frank but constructive,” but admitted that a “fundamental disagreement” remains.
The parties have agreed to establish a high-level working group to explore possible paths forward, with meetings expected in the coming weeks.
Canada and France have also taken diplomatic steps by announcing plans to open consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the move reflects Canada’s “steadfast support for the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Paris will open a consulate in early February and urged Washington to halt what he described as coercive rhetoric.
“Attacking another NATO member would make no sense and would be contrary to the interests of the United States,” Barrot said, according to Reuters. “This blackmail must stop.”
Legal experts note that any attempt by the United States to annex Greenland would raise profound questions under international law, including violations of the UN Charter, the NATO Treaty, and principles of territorial integrity and self-determination.
For now, the European troop deployments serve as both a military exercise and a legal-political signal: NATO allies are closing ranks to defend not only Arctic security, but the alliance’s legal foundations.
