European Troops Arrive in Greenland    01/15 06:18

   

   NUUK, Greenland (AP) -- Troops from several European countries, including 
France, Germany, the UK, Norway and Sweden, are arriving in Greenland in a show 
of support for Denmark as talks between representatives of Denmark, Greenland 
and the U.S. on Wednesday highlighted "fundamental disagreement" between the 
Trump administration and European allies on the future of the Arctic island.

   Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland on 
Wednesday and several European partners started sending symbolic numbers of 
troops on that day, just as the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers were 
preparing to meet with White House representatives in Washington.

   The troop movements were intended to portray unity among Europeans and send 
a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that an American takeover of Greenland 
is not necessary as NATO together can safeguard the security of the Arctic 
region amid rising Russian and Chinese interest.

   "The first French military elements are already en route" and "others will 
follow," French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, as French 
authorities said about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already 
in Nuuk for a military exercise.

   Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on 
Thursday, its Defense Ministry said.

   On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention 
was "to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish 
contribution," according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from 
several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system.

   Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic 
counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, said Wednesday that a "fundamental disagreement" 
over Greenland remains with Trump after they held highly anticipated talks at 
the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

   Rasmussen added that it remains "clear that the president has this wish of 
conquering over Greenland" but that dialogue with the U.S. would continue at a 
high level over the following weeks.

   Inhabitants of Greenland and Denmark reacted with anxiety but also some 
relief that negotiations with the U.S. would go on and European support was 
becoming visible.

   In Greenland's capital, Nuuk, local residents told The Associated Press they 
were glad the first meeting between Greenlandic, Danish and American officials 
had taken place but suggested it left more questions than answers.

   Several people said they viewed Denmark's decision to send more troops, and 
promises of support from other NATO allies, as protection against possible U.S. 
military action. But European military officials have not suggested the goal is 
to deter a U.S. move against the island.

   Maya Martinsen, 21, agreed and said it was "comforting to know that the 
Nordic countries are sending reinforcements" because Greenland is a part of 
Denmark and NATO.

   The dispute, she said, is not about "national security" but rather about 
"the oils and minerals that we have that are untouched."

   More troops, more talks

   On Wednesday, Poulsen had announced a stepped-up military presence in the 
Arctic "in close cooperation with our allies," calling it a necessity in a 
security environment in which "no one can predict what will happen tomorrow."

   "This means that from today and in the coming time there will be an 
increased military presence in and around Greenland of aircraft, ships and 
soldiers, including from other NATO allies," Poulsen said.

   Asked whether the European troop movements were coordinated with NATO or 
what role the U.S.-led military alliance might play in the exercises, NATO 
referred all questions to the Danish authorities. However, NATO is currently 
studying ways to bolster security in the Arctic.

   Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, announced the creation of a working 
group with the Americans to discuss ways to work through differences.

   "The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American 
security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the 
Kingdom of Denmark," he said.

   Commenting on the outcome of the Washington meeting on Thursday, Poulsen 
said the working group was "better than no working group" and "a step in the 
right direction." He added nevertheless that the dialogue with the U.S. did not 
mean "the danger has passed."

   "We are really happy that action is being taken to make sure that this 
discussion is not just ended with that meeting alone," Greenlandic MP 
Aki-Matilda Hoegh-Dam said on Thursday during a news conference in Copenhagen.

   She said Greenlandic people understood they were a "pivotal point" in a 
broader transformation of the international rules-based order and that they 
felt responsible not just for themselves but also for the whole world to get it 
right.

   Hoegh-Dam said the military operations should not happen "right next to our 
schools and right next to our kindergartens."

   Line McGee, a 38-year-old from Copenhagen, told AP that she was glad to see 
some diplomatic progress. "I don't think the threat has gone away," she said. 
"But I feel slightly better than I did yesterday."

   Speaking to FOX News Channel's Special Report on Wednesday after the White 
House talks, Rasmussen rejected both a military takeover and the potential 
purchase of the island by the U.S. Asked whether he thinks the U.S. will 
invade, he replied: "No, at least I do not hope so, because, I mean, that would 
be the end of NATO."

   Rasmussen said Greenlanders were unlikely to vote for U.S. rule even if 
financial incentives were offered, "because I think there's no way that U.S. 
will pay for a Scandinavian welfare system in Greenland, honestly speaking."

   "You haven't introduced a Scandinavian welfare system in your own country," 
he added.

   Trump, in his Oval Office meeting with reporters, said: "We'll see how it 
all works out. I think something will work out."