France has confirmed its participation in joint European military exercises in Greenland, organized by Denmark, against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions in the Arctic and following statements by United States President Donald Trump on his intention to establish control over the island.
The announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron via the social network
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“At the request of Denmark, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercise organized by Denmark in Greenland, Operation Arctic Endurance “, Macron said, adding that the deployment would be done gradually.
Currently, Germany, Sweden and Norway have already sent troops to the island, although in reduced numbers. It was also previously reported that the British government is holding discussions with European allies regarding the possibility of deploying a military contingent to Greenland.
Furthermore, the president of the Union of German Reservists, Patrick Sensburg, publicly defended the sending of a European brigade to the region, believing that Europe must display a more robust presence in the face of the intentions attributed to the American president concerning a territory considered strategic in the Arctic.
Trump, for his part, has expressed concerns about the presence of Russian and Chinese forces in the Arctic, calling Greenland an area of strategic importance. In response, the leaders of several major European countries issued a joint statement reaffirming the inviolability of Danish sovereignty and the island’s status as an autonomous territory under administration from Copenhagen.
On the Danish side, the Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen said the country is moving towards establishing a more permanent and larger military presence in Greenland, given the security context in the Arctic.
The last French deployment to Greenland took place in October 2025, during the exercise Arctic Light 2025organized by the Joint Arctic Command of Denmark. On this occasion, an A330 MRTT aircraft from the French Air and Space Force carried out in-flight refueling missions for the benefit of Danish aircraft; on the ground, a group of mountain commandos equipped with drones was integrated into a local unit; and, in the naval field, the Garonne support vessel of the French Navy also participated. The combination of naval, land and air assets confirmed France as one of the main contributors to the exercise.
Source et images : X @EmmanuelMacron | @armedeterre | @MarineNationale | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
At the request of Denmark, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, Operation Arctic Endurance. The first French military elements are already on the way. Others will follow.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 14, 2026
