{"id":409759,"date":"2026-01-16T00:04:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/409759\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T00:04:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:04:19","slug":"european-troops-arrive-in-greenland-as-denmark-talks-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/409759\/","title":{"rendered":"European troops arrive in Greenland as Denmark talks with US"},"content":{"rendered":"

NUUK, Greenland (AP) \u2014 Troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Thursday in a show of support for Denmark as talks<\/a> among representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. highlighted \u201cfundamental disagreement\u201d over the future of the Arctic island. <\/p>\n

The disagreement came into starker focus Thursday, with the White House describing plans for more talks with officials from Denmark and Greenland as \u201ctechnical talks on the acquisition agreement\u201d for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. <\/p>\n

That was a far cry from the way Danish Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen described it as a working group that would discuss ways to work through differences between the nations. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said Wednesday after the meeting.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People walk on a street in Nuuk, Greenland, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Evgeniy Maloletka)<\/p>\n

People walk on a street in Nuuk, Greenland, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Evgeniy Maloletka)<\/p>\n

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Before the talks began Wednesday, Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland. Several European partners \u2014 including France, Germany, the U.K., Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands \u2014 started sending symbolic numbers of troops or promised to do so in the following days. <\/p>\n

The troop movements were intended to portray unity among Europeans and send a signal to 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.<\/p>\n

The European troops did little to dissuade Trump.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

From center to right, Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Denmark\u2019s Ambassador Jesper M\u00f8ller S\u00f8rensen, rear, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen, right, arrive on Capitol Hill to meet with senators from the Arctic Caucus, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n

From center to right, Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Denmark\u2019s Ambassador Jesper M\u00f8ller S\u00f8rensen, rear, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen, right, arrive on Capitol Hill to meet with senators from the Arctic Caucus, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that it had no impact on the U.S. president\u2019s decision-making or goal of acquiring Greenland.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president has made his priority quite clear, that he wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it\u2019s in our best national security to do that,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, said Wednesday that a \u201cfundamental disagreement\u201d over Greenland<\/a> remained after they met at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. <\/p>\n

Rasmussen said it remains \u201cclear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland\u201d but dialogue with the U.S. would continue at a high level over the following weeks. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that \u201cthe first French military elements are already en route\u201d and \u201cothers will follow,\u201d as French authorities said about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise.<\/p>\n

Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said. <\/p>\n

On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was \u201cto establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution,\u201d according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system. <\/p>\n

\u2018Greenland does not want to be part of the United States\u2019<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Greenland\u2019s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the continuation of \u201cdialogue and diplomacy.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cGreenland is not for sale,\u201d he said Thursday. \u201cGreenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Greenland\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Several people said they viewed Denmark\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Maya Martinsen, 21, said it was \u201ccomforting to know that the Nordic countries are sending reinforcements\u201d because Greenland is a part of Denmark and NATO.<\/p>\n

The dispute, she said, is not about \u201cnational security\u201d but rather about \u201cthe oils and minerals that we have that are untouched.\u201d<\/p>\n

More troops, more talks<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Poulsen announced a stepped-up military presence in the Arctic \u201cin close cooperation with our allies,\u201d calling it a necessity in a security environment in which \u201cno one can predict what will happen tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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,\u201d Poulsen said.<\/p>\n

Denmark informed NATO that it will be conducting exercises in Greenland, and the alliance\u2019s Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich spoke Thursday with Denmark\u2019s chief of defense, Col. Martin O\u2019Donnell, a spokesperson for Grynkewich told the AP.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force taxis over the grounds at Wunstorf Air Base in the Hanover region, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 as troops from NATO countries, including France and Germany, are arriving in Greenland to boost security. (Moritz Frankenberg\/dpa via AP)<\/p>\n

An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force taxis over the grounds at Wunstorf Air Base in the Hanover region, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 as troops from NATO countries, including France and Germany, are arriving in Greenland to boost security. (Moritz Frankenberg\/dpa via AP)<\/p>\n

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He said such dialogue is typical and added that \u201cwe all agree the Arctic \u2013 including Greenland \u2013 is important for transatlantic security.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Danish exercises and deployment of additional troops \u201cbolster our collective defenses there,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said.<\/p>\n

The Russian embassy in Brussels on Thursday lambasted what it called the West\u2019s \u201cbellicose plans\u201d in response to \u201cphantom threats that they generate themselves\u201d. It said the planned military actions were part of an \u201canti-Russian and anti-Chinese agenda\u201d by NATO.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia has consistently maintained that the Arctic should remain a territory of peace, dialogue and equal cooperation,\u201d the embassy said.<\/p>\n

Some diplomatic progress<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Denmark's<\/p>\n

Denmark\u2019s Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen and Greenland\u2019s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell)<\/p>\n

Denmark\u2019s Foreign Minister Lars L\u00f8kke Rasmussen and Greenland\u2019s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell)<\/p>\n

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Commenting on the outcome of the Washington meeting on Thursday, Poulsen said the working group was \u201cbetter than no working group\u201d and \u201ca step in the right direction.\u201d He added nevertheless that the dialogue with the U.S. did not mean \u201cthe danger has passed.\u201d <\/p>\n

The most important thing for Greenlanders is that they were directly represented at the meeting in the White House and that \u201cthe diplomatic dialogue has begun now,\u201d Juno Berthelsen, a lawmaker for the pro-independence Naleraq opposition party, told AP. <\/p>\n

A relationship with the U.S. is beneficial for Greenlanders and Americans and is \u201cvital to the security and stability of the Arctic and the Western Alliance,\u201d Berthelsen said. He suggested the U.S. could be involved in the creation of a coast guard for Greenland, providing funding and creating jobs for local people who can help to patrol the Arctic.<\/p>\n

In Washington, Rasmussen and Motzfeldt also met with a bipartisan group of senators at the U.S. Capitol.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really appreciate that we have close friends in the Senate and the House as well,\u201d Rasmussen told reporters, adding that Denmark would work to \u201caccommodate any reasonable American requests\u201d with Greenland.<\/p>\n

There has been significant concern among lawmakers of both political parties that Trump could upend the NATO alliance by insisting on using military force to possess Greenland. Key Republicans lawmakers have pushed back on those plans and suggested that the Trump administration should work with Denmark to enhance mutual security in the Arctic.<\/p>\n

Line McGee, 38, from Copenhagen, told AP that she was glad to see some diplomatic progress. \u201cI don\u2019t think the threat has gone away,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I feel slightly better than I did yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump, in his Oval Office meeting with reporters, said: \u201cWe\u2019ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Niemann reported from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ciobanu from Warsaw, Poland. Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Michelle L. Price in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NUUK, Greenland (AP) \u2014 Troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Thursday in a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":409760,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[196757,23,1927,34356,189666,12,5607,793,7261,6009,17153,73972,643,196758,196756,1576,5855,3,59842,111,21,792,19,22,20,25,24,196003,964,800,965],"class_list":["post-409759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-alexus-grynkewich","tag-america","tag-ap-top-news","tag-denmark","tag-denmark-government","tag-donald-trump","tag-emmanuel-macron","tag-general-news","tag-greenland","tag-jd-vance","tag-karoline-leavitt","tag-lars-lokke-rasmussen","tag-marco-rubio","tag-martin-odonnell","tag-maya-martinsen","tag-military-and-defense","tag-nato","tag-news","tag-north-atlantic-treaty-organization","tag-politics","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-government","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa","tag-vivian-motzfeldt","tag-war-and-unrest","tag-washington-news","tag-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}