In a historic rupture of the Western alliance, seven European nations began deploying troops to Greenland on January 15, 2026, marking the first time NATO members have mobilized against territorial claims from another member—the United States. President Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island by force, if necessary, have escalated a political dispute into a military standoff, testing the bonds forged in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion.
Troops Touch Down in Nuuk
France spearheaded the effort, sending 15 mountain warfare specialists from the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Germany contributed 13 troops via A400M transport aircraft for a three-day reconnaissance mission to assess conditions for potential further support to Denmark. Over the next days, Finland, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands added small contingents, totaling a few dozen personnel.
These modest numbers contrast sharply with the 150 U.S. troops stationed at Pituffik Space Base. Yet the deployments carry profound weight, signaling Europe’s resolve against what leaders describe as American overreach. By January 18, French specialists had initiated operations in Kangerlussuaq, coordinated with Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command.
European Resolve Hardens
French President Emmanuel Macron pledged additional land, air, and sea reinforcements in the coming days. Denmark responded by expanding its own presence with aircraft, naval vessels, and ground forces. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected U.S. overtures outright: “We choose Denmark. Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States.”
The island, spanning 836,330 square miles and home to 56,000 mostly Inuit residents, holds strategic value beneath its ice. U.S. Geological Survey estimates point to 1.5 million metric tons of rare-earth elements—ranking eighth globally—and 31 billion barrels of oil equivalent in hydrocarbons. The Kvanefjeld deposit alone may exceed 11 million metric tons of rare earths.
White House Stance Unyielding
Ahead of a January 15 White House meeting, Trump posted that U.S. control of Greenland would make NATO “more powerful and effective,” deeming anything less unacceptable. He cited needs for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system and warned that Russia or China would otherwise seize it. Neither military force nor alternatives were ruled out.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, accompanied by Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio but failed to shift positions. “We were unable to change the American viewpoint,” Rasmussen said afterward. “It’s evident that the president has this ambition to take control of Greenland.”
Rasmussen debunked Trump’s claims of “Chinese and Russian ships teeming” in Greenland waters, noting no Chinese warship had visited in a decade, per Danish intelligence. Denmark had already thwarted Chinese infrastructure bids and invested nearly $15 billion in recent High North defenses, including patrol boats and drones—under a 1951 U.S.-Denmark agreement allowing American operations.
Fractures Emerge Across the Alliance
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on January 16: “A conflict or attempted annexation of NATO territory by another NATO member would be the end of the world as we know it.” Warsaw opted against sending troops, avoiding entanglement.
Russia’s embassy in Belgium highlighted the irony, accusing NATO of buildup under false Moscow-Beijing threat pretexts while now facing internal aggression. A U.S. Congressional delegation of 11 bipartisan members, led by Senators Chris Coons, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski, arrived in Copenhagen on January 16 to affirm alliance ties. “We are showing bipartisan solidarity. They’ve been our friends and allies for decades,” said Senator Dick Durbin.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced a “working group” for technical talks on acquisition, every two to three weeks. Rasmussen framed it as addressing U.S. security concerns while upholding Danish sovereignty. In a Fox News interview, he added: “This is 2026. You trade with people, but you don’t trade people.”
Trump referenced recent U.S. actions in Venezuela—capturing President Nicolás Maduro—as evidence of decisive capability if Denmark could not counter a Russian move on Greenland.
NATO’s Uncharted Waters
Signed in 1949 by 12 nations, NATO’s Article 5 deems an attack on one an attack on all—invoked once after 9/11 against external foes. No provisions exist for member-versus-member disputes. Trump has touted NATO’s defense spending gains under his pressure, as acknowledged by Secretary General Mark Rutte. Yet his Greenland push now imperils the pact.
This crisis probes whether the alliance that deterred Hitler and Stalin can endure internal strain. A fragile “working group” offers a diplomatic thread, but escalating rhetoric and deployments raise the specter of fracture. The outcome will determine NATO’s cohesion amid Arctic rivalries and global realignments.
Sources:
NATO Deploys Troops in Greenland in First Military Standoff Against US Since 1949 – BBC News
European Military Personnel Arrive in Greenland as Trump Pushes for Acquisition – CNN
France to Deploy More Troops, Air, Naval Assets to Greenland – Anadolu Agency
German Military Team Heads to Greenland for Reconnaissance Mission – Deutsche Welle
Trump Still Intent on ‘Conquering Greenland,’ Denmark Says – NBC News
Poland Will Not Send Soldiers to Greenland, Polish PM Says – Reuters