German military personnel set to arrive in Greenland
January 15, 2026
German Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that NATO will not allow Russia and China to jeopardize the situation in the Arctic region.
The announcement came as military personnel from several European countries, including Germany, were due to begin arriving in Greenland .
"A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in a New Year's address to the armed forces.
What did the German Defense Ministry say?
"Russia and China are increasingly using the Arctic for military purposes, thereby jeopardizing the freedom of transport, communication and trade," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was quoted as saying.
"NATO will not allow this and will continue to uphold the rules-based international order. It is crucial for me that we coordinate very closely within NATO, particularly with our US partners, during the joint exploration in Greenland under Danish leadership," he added.
On Wednesday evening, when a meeting in Washington between American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials ended without resolving "fundamental disagreements" over the strategically important Arctic island, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, and Britain announced their deployment of military forces at Denmark's request.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to take over Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, to exploit its mineral resources and ensure the security of the Arctic region, citing growing interest from Russia and China.
What do we know about deployment?
According to the German Defense Ministry, a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel would first fly to Denmark's Karup air base on Thursday, from where the European allies would fly together to Greenland on Friday.
The ministry said that the reconnaissance mission to Greenland by several European NATO members aimed to "explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic".
In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will participate in the joint Arctic Endurance exercises Denmark is organizing in Greenland. According to the post, the first French military elements are already en route, with more to follow.
France's ambassador to Poland, Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, told France Info that the first group of French military personnel deployed to Greenland included about 15 mountain specialists.
Meanwhile, Downing Street confirmed that, at Denmark's request, a UK military officer had been deployed to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned exercise.
On Friday, Finland and the Netherlands announced they would also send officers to Greenland.
Denmark boosts military presence in Greenland
Before the meeting in Washington on Wednesday, the Danish Ministry of Defense announced that Denmark will increase its military presence in Greenland "from today."
According to a ministry statement, which made no direct mention of the United States, this is in response to unspecified "geopolitical tensions" that have spread to the Arctic.
"From today, there will be an expanded military presence in and around Greenland – in close cooperation with NATO allies," the ministry said.
The statement explained that more aircraft, vessels and soldiers, from Denmark and from NATO allies, would be deployed to Greenland.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher