The deployment of European troops in Greenland has no impact on US President Donald Trump’s plans to take control of the Arctic island from Denmark, the White House said on Thursday.
“I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the deployment.
Her comments come on the same day that European military personnel began arriving in Greenland, hours after a meeting between US, Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington failed to resolve what Denmark’s foreign minister called “fundamental disagreement” over the mineral-rich Arctic island.
France, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced on Wednesday that they would deploy military personnel as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland’s capital Nuuk.
Germany’s defence ministry said on Thursday that the reconnaissance mission to Greenland by several European NATO members aims “to explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic.”
A 13-strong Bundeswehr reconnaissance team would deploy to Nuuk from Thursday to Sunday at Denmark’s invitation, the ministry said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would soon send more “land, air, and sea” forces to join the military exercise in Greenland.
“A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets,” Macron told troops during a speech to start the new year.
Hellbound and Down 