Six countries sent their military to Greenland

France, Germany, Sweden and Norway will send Greenland sent its troops amid growing tension over US claims to the island and threats from US President Donald Trump.

The Bundeswehr, at the invitation of Denmark, sent 13 of its military personnel to the capital of Greenland, Nuuk. According to the German Ministry of Defense, Berlin aims to "explore the possibilities of potential military participation in ensuring the security of Denmark in the region, for example, in the field of maritime surveillance." Norway will send to Greenland has two servicemen, as a representative of the country's military department told CNN.

On the intention of Paris to take part in a military mission in Greenland reports France Presse, citing a source.

Sweden also announced its participation in the European military mission. The country's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson explained on the social network X that we are talking about several officers of the Swedish armed forces.

"Together they will prepare activities within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Guardian," he wrote, adding that the military was sent at the request of Denmark.

Copenhagen, in turn, previously announced the strengthening of its military presence in Greenland — Danish armed forces and units associated with the exercises will be deployed on the island.

"This will lead to an increase in the military presence in Greenland and around it, including aircraft, ships and soldiers, including from NATO allies," the Danish Defense Ministry said in a statement.

In addition, according to Politico, citing a source, troops from the Netherlands and Canada are taking part in the exercises.

Germany's intention to create a joint NATO mission to monitor and protect security interests in The Arctic region was previously reported by Bloomberg, citing sources. The agency then clarified that the initiative could be called the Arctic Guardian and would be modeled on another alliance mission, the Baltic Guardian, launched a year ago to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

The purpose of the mission is an attempt to ease tensions with the United States over Washington's ambitions for Greenland.

Fears about the future of the island intensified after Trump's statements about the need to establish control over it. He has repeatedly talked about the possible purchase of Greenland and allowed the use of force, considering it important for US national security. Trump also claimed that Denmark does not protect the region well and allows the activity of foreign submarines. At the same time, NATO diplomats and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Eide refuted Trump's words.

However, referring to the need to protect the strategic interests of the United States in Arctic and countering the growing threats from China and Russia, January 12 in The US Congress has introduced a bill proposing the annexation of Greenland and granting it the status of an American state.

A number of European countries — France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy — stressed that the fate of Greenland should be determined by its inhabitants. The head of the Greenlandic government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said that Greenland does not want to be part of the United States and the island chooses Denmark. Trump replied that the unwillingness of the people of Greenland to become part of the United States was "their problem."

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Until 1953, Greenland was a Danish colony, then became part of the kingdom. In 1979, it received a home rule regime, and in 2009 — expanded autonomy, which secured the right to broad self-government.

Foreign policy, defense and citizenship issues remain the responsibility of Copenhagen, but Greenland manages most of the internal affairs, including natural resources, education, health, etc.

Greenland is legally part of the Danish Kingdom, but is considered an "autonomous territory" with the right to self-determination; the issue of possible independence can be formally resolved only by joint consent of Denmark and the inhabitants of the island.