EU tensions rise as NATO considers troops in Greenland
EU countries that are also NATO members are considering sending troops to Greenland in response to Donald Trump's threats to take over the Danish island, according to the British newspaper, The Telegraph. The highest-ranking military officer in the EU advocates sending EU member state troops to the island as a "strong signal."
NATO countries are in discussions about the possibility of deploying troops to Greenland, reports The Telegraph. This is a reaction to Donald Trump's threats, who is considering using US armed forces to take over the Danish island. Germany and other European countries are exploring how to respond to possible future actions by the American president.
Trump and threats to Greenland. What will NATO do?
The topic has already been the subject of unofficial talks, including on the German side, as reported by diplomatic sources to the British newspaper. It was also discussed how NATO's Article 5 on collective defence would function in the case of US actions when a founding nation of the Alliance is involved.
Greenland holds crucial strategic importance. Located in the Arctic, it possesses some of the world's largest deposits of rare earth metals. For some time, it has attracted attention from China and Russia, which even conduct joint patrols in the far north. Formally, it is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a country that joined NATO with the formation of the alliance in 1949.
The new US president does not intend to back down, testing the European Union. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already criticised Trump, emphasising that borders cannot be changed by force or economic coercion. Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is attempting to avoid escalating tensions on this issue while working to strengthen the presence of Danish soldiers on the island.
The Danes plan to invest $1.5 (£1.2) billion in new inspection ships, drones, and sled dog patrols to increase Greenland's security. Additionally, the modernisation of the airport will enable F-35 fighter operations.
Discussions in NATO and the EU
In Brussels, talks are ongoing about the possibility of invoking NATO's Article 5, which concerns collective defence in case of an attack on a member of the alliance. However, such a decision would require unanimity from all 32 member states, including the United States itself.
At the end of January, Austrian Gen. Robert Brieger, the commander of the EU military committee, stated that sending Brussels-led forces to Greenland would be a "strong signal" to Trump. However, this would require approval from EU member states. The EU military committee does not have an army capable of conducting such a mission.
