Greenland's defense is a 'common concern' for NATO, Danish PM says as European troops fly in. The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, emphasized that Greenland's defense is a shared responsibility within the NATO alliance, as troops from France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, among others, arrived in Greenland in response to Donald Trump's threats to seize the Arctic island by force. The visit comes after a tense meeting in Washington between the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark, Vivian Motzfeldt and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting aimed to improve relations, but Trump's comments about Greenland's strategic importance for US national security and his criticism of Denmark's reliability in protecting the island have not been well-received. Frederiksen acknowledged the ongoing disagreement, stating that the US's ambition to acquire Greenland remains intact. She assured that Denmark is investing in new Arctic capabilities and that allies are participating in joint exercises in and around Greenland. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed the deployment of French military personnel to Greenland, while the German government announced the arrival of a reconnaissance team. The Danish Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, expressed plans to establish a more permanent military presence in Greenland with increased Danish involvement. The tension between the US and Denmark over Greenland's sovereignty continues, with Trump asserting the need for US control, despite Løkke Rasmussen's acknowledgment of a fundamental disagreement and the ongoing efforts to prevent a potential US takeover.
