Germany to send troops to Greenland this week – Media
Illustrative photo: The first Bundeswehr soldiers could arrive in Greenland as early as January 15 (Getty Images)
Germany could send soldiers to Greenland as early as this week. An advance group of Bundeswehr troops is expected to arrive to strengthen the island’s defenses amid claims by US President Donald Trump, Bild reports.
According to several sources cited by the outlet, the operation to deploy Bundeswehr personnel to Greenland could begin as early as January 15. The first reconnaissance group would be sent to the island. At the same time, a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense said they could neither confirm nor deny this information.
"Denmark announced on Tuesday that it would significantly increase its presence. In addition, other European NATO partners are expected to follow suit," the outlet reports.
Officially, NATO countries are expanding their presence in Greenland. In reality, however, the operation is being coordinated by Copenhagen rather than NATO structures, due to a lack of trust in the United States, and is being carried out without US involvement.
"In Germany, the Ministry of Defense is involved, with the Federal Chancellery playing a leading role… In addition to a training mission for mountain troops, the main candidates are naval and air force units," the report says.
On January 14, Swedish troops arrived in Greenland - officially to take part in the international military exercise Operation Arctic Endurance. Swedish officers joined a multinational group of allied forces that will jointly rehearse response scenarios to potential threats in the Arctic region.
Earlier, amid statements by US President Trump about Washington’s need to obtain Greenland, the island’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said Greenland rejects the idea of joining the United States and prefers to remain in a union with Denmark.
In response, Trump lashed out with threats toward Nielsen, saying he would have "a big problem." On January 14, the US President published two posts. In the first, demanding that Greenland be placed under US control, he claimed it was necessary to build the Golden Dome missile defense system. In the second, he openly demanded that Denmark abandon the island.
However, the White House is for now avoiding a military path. It has emerged that the United States may be willing to pay up to $700 billion to buy Greenland. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly been tasked with preparing the proposal.
