European nations to send troops to Greenland as US annexation threats escalate

CNN ^ | Jan 15, 2026 | Lex Harvey

[McGruff]

Several NATO countries are deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland to participate in joint exercises with Denmark as US President Donald Trump ramps up his threats to forcibly annex the Arctic island.

Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense, has warned an attack on Greenland would all but end NATO, and announced on Wednesday that it was expanding its military presence “in close cooperation with NATO allies.”

Germany, Sweden, France and Norway have all since confirmed they are sending military personnel to Greenland this week for a joint exercise with Danish troops. Canada and France have also said they plan to open consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, in the coming weeks.

But both the timing and symbolism of the latest announcements by European nations are a significant show of solidarity at a time of unprecedented tension within NATO.

Trump has been extremely vocal about his ambitions to seize control of the world’s largest island, including by force if necessary, saying he was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” during a press conference with oil executives on Friday.

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TOPICS: European Union; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 5thcolumonfr; cnn; cnnfakenews; cnntreason; concerntroll; concerntrolling; denmark; eussr; exercise; fakenews; fourthreich; frtraitorslist; greenland; lexharvey; mcgruff; mctroll; mczot; militaryexercise; nuuk; sidebarabuse; zot

[madison10]

Seriously? At least the CAN mobilize when they want to.

[lightman]

Seize Greenland and end NATO looks like a two for one win.

[Brandonmark]

Bye Bye NATO

[Keyhopper]

Hey! We’re part of NATO where do we muster?

[nathanbedford]

Trump has taken giant strides toward dismantling NATO and extricating the US from the most successful multilateral defense treaty in history. His blustering and threatening to invade Greenland and make war on a NATO member would be the final, irreversible blow to NATO's existence and create a huge hole in America's defense.

Among the unavoidable collateral consequences of such an ill-judged action would certainly be a wave of nuclear proliferation across Europe and into the Middle East. So much for enhancing our national security.

[McGruff]

Hey...why you send troops to Greenland but not to Ukraine?

[nathanbedford]

The Europeans are cleverly forming a trigger line in Greenland ostensibly to forestall any invasion by Trump but actually to change the terms of the upcoming negotiations in their favor.

It is not just Trump who understands the tactics of negotiation.

[faithhopecharity]

whichever Euro countries send military to Greenland are as stupid as teats on a boar

and will very soon learn FAFO

[Chgogal]

Dumb move on part of our NATO partners. Maybe Europe will pull out of NATO.

[TigersEye]

At least he’s doing a good job of exposing the Europeans for the feckless allies they are.

[Chgogal]

“Germany, Sweden, France and Norway have all since confirmed they are sending military personnel to Greenland this week for a joint exercise with Danish troops. Canada and France have also said they plan to open consulates in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, in the coming weeks.“

A Monty Python episode is writing itself.

[piasa]

Looks like a great place to practice. NATO probably needs some practice the way Pootie has been effin with Finland.

[piasa]

Because they have to practice somewhere without the Russians being able to observe as much as if they did it in Europe.

[nathanbedford]

When it comes to Ukraine, it is the United States under Trump that is proved itself feckless and worse.

[TigersEye]

Nicely deflected! lol

[Chgogal]

Other than Britain, the NATO countries are lightweight partners with very little to offer the US in their own defense.

[nathanbedford]

Deflected, of course, but to the point as well.

[Texas_Jarhead]

How about we offer the Danes to lease Greenland with exclusive rights and control for 100 years for $X ala British Hong Kong. Perhaps sharing resources we harvest in a small way if necessary. BOOM done.

[dadgum]

Greenland is an extremely important national defense asset.
We already have a significant base there in Thule.

Screw Europe.

By hook or by crook, the USA, and by proxy, the whole free world will benefit from an enhanced American presence in Greenland.