European navy personnel arrive in Greenland as Trump says US wants island

[ad_1] Paul Kirby Europe digital editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fa87/live/3126fb20-f202-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A plane with the Royal Danish Air Force livery stands on the tarmac at Nuuk airport" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters A Danish air pressure transport airplane arrived in Greenland as European Nato allies deployed to the capital, Nuuk, for joint workout routines

A 15-strong French navy contingent has arrived in Greenland's capital Nuuk, as a number of European states ship troopers there as a part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.

The deployment, which will even embrace personnel from Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK, comes as US President Donald Trump continues to press his declare to the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous a part of Denmark.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated the preliminary contingent could be strengthened quickly with "land, air, and sea property".

Senior diplomat Olivier Poivre d'Arvor noticed the mission as sending a powerful political sign: "This can be a first train... we'll present the US that Nato is current."

The motion of navy personnel comes after Denmark and Greenland's overseas ministers travelled to Washington for a gathering with US Vice-President JD Vance on Wednesday.

Following the assembly, Danish International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated whereas the talks have been constructive, there remained a "elementary disagreement" between the 2 sides and later criticised Trump's bid to purchase Greenland.

Trump, in the meantime, doubled down on his bid to carry Greenland underneath US management, telling reporters within the Oval Workplace, "we want Greenland for nationwide safety". Though he didn't rule out using pressure, he stated late on Wednesday that he thought one thing could possibly be labored out with Denmark.

"The issue is there's not a factor that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China needs to occupy Greenland, however there's all the things we are able to do. You discovered that out final week with Venezuela."

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated Poland was not planning to hitch the European navy deployment to Greenland, however warned that any US navy intervention there "could be a political catastrophe".

"A battle or tried annexation of the territory of a Nato member by one other Nato member could be the top of the world as we all know it - and which for a few years assured our safety," he advised a press convention.

Russia's embassy in Belgium in the meantime expressed "severe concern" at what was unfolding within the Arctic, accusing Nato of increase a navy presence there "underneath the false pretext of a rising menace from Moscow and Beijing".

Nevertheless, the European Nato deployment consists of just a few dozen personnel as a part of Danish-led joint workout routines known as Operation Arctic Endurance. Whereas heavy in symbolism, it was not instantly clear how lengthy they'd keep.

Germany was sending an A400M transport airplane to Nuuk on Thursday with a contingent of 13 troopers, though officers stated they'd keep in Greenland solely till Saturday.

Danish defence officers stated that they had determined with the federal government of Greenland that there could be an elevated navy presence round Greenland within the coming interval to bolster Nato's "footprint within the Arctic for the advantage of each European and transatlantic safety".

Macron, in his new 12 months handle to France's armed forces, stated Europeans had a particular accountability to Greenland "as a result of this territory belongs to the European Union and it is also one in every of our Nato allies".

The US already has a navy base in Greenland, at present staffed by as much as 150 folks, and has the choice of bringing in far larger numbers underneath present agreements with Copenhagen. However the Danish-led initiative is seen as signalling to the Trump administration that its European allies even have a stake in safety within the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Sweden's prime minister stated Swedish military officers had been despatched to Nuuk on Wednesday. Two Norwegian navy personnel, one British navy officer and a Dutch naval officer have been additionally being despatched.

Downing Avenue stated the UK shared President Trump's concern about "the safety of the Excessive North", and stated the deployment concerned "stepping up with stronger exercising, to discourage the Russian aggression and the Chinese language exercise."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on Thursday that defence and safety of Greenland was a standard concern for the whole Nato alliance.

Watch: What message do Greenlanders wish to ship to Trump?

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated the intention was to have a navy presence "in rotation", with the goal of getting a extra everlasting navy presence on the island with overseas allies participating in train and coaching actions.

Copenhagen has disputed Trump's justification for wanting to manage Greenland. Rasmussen, its overseas minister, stated on Wednesday there was no "on the spot menace" from China or Russia that Denmark and Greenland couldn't accommodate, though he shared American safety issues to some extent.

A Democratic-led US delegation is because of go to Denmark on Friday for talks with Danish MPs.

Rasmussen spoke alongside Greenland's overseas minister after talks with Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.

"The president's ambition is on the desk," the Danish diplomat advised Fox Information. "After all now we have our pink traces. That is 2026, you commerce with folks however you do not commerce folks."

Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated this week that the territory was within the midst of a geopolitical disaster, and that if his folks have been requested to select they'd select Denmark over the US.

"Greenland doesn't wish to be owned by the US. Greenland doesn't wish to be ruled by the US. Greenland doesn't wish to be a part of the US," he careworn.