Military in Greenland: which countries sent troops and how the US and Russia reacted

Europe sends military personnel to Greenland European countries began sending military personnel to Greenland this Thursday (15), amid threats and the desire of United States President Donald Trump to acquire the island. The initiative provoked reactions from the American government and Russia. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp ▶️ Context: Trump has been advocating that the US annex the territory of Greenland since at least 2019. The topic returned to the agenda after he returned to the White House in January last year. The United States considers Greenland strategic for national security. The assessment is that the island could house defense systems capable of intercepting missiles launched from Europe or the Arctic. The region is also rich in minerals, oil and natural gas. The exploration of these resources, however, faces restrictions imposed by local authorities. Greenland is geographically located on the North American continent, but maintains political ties with Denmark. The island was a Danish colony and officially became part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. More than 15 years ago, Denmark authorized a referendum that could result in a declaration of independence for Greenland. However, amid Trump’s threats, Denmark began planning a “larger and more permanent” presence of NATO troops in Greenland. The local government supports the measure. 🪖 Troops: This week, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands sent small military contingents to the island. The move was made at the request of Denmark. Germany deployed a team of 13 soldiers. France sent around 15 experts for operations in mountainous areas. A British officer also participates in the mission. Sweden and Norway sent three and two officers respectively. The Netherlands and Finland sent one and two soldiers. According to European authorities, the first shipments aim to prepare military exercises and plan greater reinforcement throughout 2026. Currently, around 200 United States military personnel are already operating in Greenland through a bilateral agreement. The country maintains a military base in the region. What the US says United States President Donald Trump on January 14, 2026 REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Trump claims that Greenland is vital to US security due to its strategic location in the Arctic. He has already declared that the island should belong to the United States and has not ruled out the use of force to seize the territory. On Wednesday (14), after a meeting without progress between authorities from the USA, Denmark and Greenland, the American president once again said that the Danish government would not be able to protect the island if Russia or China tried to occupy it. “The United States needs Greenland for national security purposes. It is vital to the Golden Dome we are building. NATO should lead the way in achieving it. If we don’t, Russia or China will, and that won’t happen!” he wrote. 👉 The Golden Dome is a military structure planned by the USA to intercept missiles launched against North American territory. A day after the meeting, the White House stated that the deployment of European troops does not change Trump’s position on Greenland. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the president still wants the island to be controlled by the United States. “I don’t think European troops influence the president’s decision-making process, nor the objective of acquiring Greenland,” he said. READ ALSO Greenland is smaller than maps show Trump says he received the Nobel Peace Prize medal as a ‘gift’ from Maria Corina Machado Trump defends Putin and says Ukraine is preventing a peace agreement; Zelensky counters What Russia says President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, at a year-end press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS Russia criticized NATO’s military presence in Greenland and said the alliance promotes accelerated military mobilization in the region. According to the Russian government, the US narrative that there is a Russian or Chinese threat to the island is a “myth” used to generate hysteria. Currently, there is little evidence of a significant presence of Chinese or Russian ships in the waters near Greenland. “First, the idea arose that there were some aggressors, and then that they were ready to protect someone from these aggressors,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. The Russian embassy in Belgium, where NATO is based, said in a statement that the Russian government is seriously concerned about the deployment of the alliance’s military personnel to the Arctic region. VIDEOS: most watched on g1

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