French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday evening that France will deploy troops to Greenland, signaling support for Denmark as the Trump administration continues to press for American control of the Arctic territory.
Although Greenland is not a member of the European Union, EU leaders have rallied behind Denmark, which retains authority over the island. Over the past week, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden have all said they will send troops to Greenland, largely for joint military exercises.
France’s decision followed a White House meeting on Wednesday involving Greenlandic and Danish officials and U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After the meeting, France joined a growing group of NATO countries participating in Danish-led military exercises on the island.
In a post on X, Macron said France would take part in “Operation Arctic Endurance,” a series of joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland. He said the first French military personnel had already arrived, with additional forces to follow.
The European deployments are intended both to reinforce Denmark’s claim to Greenland and to demonstrate to Washington that Europe can defend the strategically important island. European officials have framed the effort as a response to potential threats from Russia and China, amid growing competition in the Arctic.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned Denmark’s ability to secure Greenland, joking earlier this week that Copenhagen’s military presence on the island consisted of “two dog sleds.” It remains unclear whether the European troop deployments will significantly alter Washington’s view of European defense capabilities in the region. Germany, for example, has committed to sending 13 troops.
The number of French soldiers being deployed has not been disclosed. However, Le Monde reported that the contingent is expected to be “relatively modest.”
Despite objections from Europe, Trump on Wednesday reiterated his position that the United States requires Greenland for national security reasons. Writing on Truth Social, he said Greenland is “vital for the Golden Dome that we are building” and argued that NATO should help facilitate U.S. control of the island. He added that NATO would become “far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States,” calling any alternative “unacceptable.”
Trump also warned that without American control, Greenland could fall under the influence of Russia or China, an outcome he said he would not allow.
Greenlandic leaders have so far indicated that they prefer to remain under Danish control rather than become part of the United States. No formal financial proposal has yet been presented to Greenland’s population of roughly 57,000 people.
Following Wednesday’s White House meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said that a “high-level” working group has been established to address the dispute. They acknowledged a “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland’s future and said another meeting with U.S. officials is expected in the coming weeks.
READ NEXT: The Strategic Logic Behind Trump’s Greenland Push
the US could just rent a section of greenland. That would be a win win for everyone.
What people seem to forget is that Europeans are critically weak in that they are surrounded by China and Russia. This means that in the future game of global chess we are likely to have 3 super powers, U.S., China, and Russia. China is it’s own massive land area but most likely would swallow up Asia and Russia would most likely control all of Europe.
The U.S. is trying to protect it’s own hemisphere (the Western), and by including South America (eventually) as well as Greenland this would accomplish an area covered by Trump’s Golden Dome, giving protection to our allies. If we can’t accomplish this, NATO will fizzle out, and China and Russia will gain control.
The people of Greenland want the U.S. protection and being a part of our Nation affords them prosperity and grand military protection against the coming tide.
The heads of State know this and our enemies know this. Denmark needs to wake up.
Once again, getting NATO off their rotund duffs to defend Greenland with their troops & expense to provide a deterrent to Russia and /or China ? The Donald not only wrote the “Art of the Deal” but is using it in foreign relations !
Clearly Greenland is strategically important and either we or our allies must secure it. I am a strong Trump supporter but I have to say, making fun of our allies with comments like, “Denmark’s defense is a couple of dog sleds” isn’t helpful to anyone. Just sayin
Greenland “leaders” want no U.S. What about the people who are subject to those leaders?
Why is this such a big deal? Both Britian and the US invaded Greenland during WW II. First Britian, in the late 30’s, invaded Greenland to prevent Germany from invading Greenland due to its strategic importance. When the Brit’s left to fight the Germans, FDR sent US Marines replace them. And when the Marines went to fight in the Pacific, FDR sent the US Army to replace them. And then there was Truman, who 1st proposed buying Greenland. So when President Trump follows FDR and Truman, the Dems are upset. I guess they don’t even like their policies??
Ha, a single polar bear will have the fwench (sic) running home to momma….