Britain and Germany are leading discussions with European NATO allies on deploying military forces to Greenland to reassure the United States and bolster Arctic security, Bloomberg News reported Sunday.
Germany is reportedly proposing a joint NATO mission to protect the Arctic region, while the UK has been in early-stage talks with France, Germany, and other allies about sending troops, warships, and aircraft to Greenland. The goal is to address U.S. concerns over potential Russian and Chinese activity near the strategically located and mineral-rich island.
As reported in Reuters, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander described the discussions as “business as usual,” emphasizing the Arctic’s increasing geopolitical significance. “You would expect us to be talking to all our allies in NATO about what we can do to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic Circle,” she said. A government spokesperson confirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening NATO’s Arctic deterrence and defence.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the United States must “own” Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence, though Danish and Nordic authorities reject these claims. Vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic and LSEG show no presence of Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that any solution must be handled within NATO’s framework.
“If it comes to questions of territorial sovereignty, we are absolutely clear: The future of Greenland has to be decided by the people of Greenland,” Wadephul said.
The talks come amid wider European military planning, including Britain’s allocation of $270 million to prepare for potential troop deployments to Ukraine, part of the multinational force designed to reassure Kyiv and deter Russian aggression.
