Denmark to boost military presence on Greenland

COPENHAGEN: Criticised by the US for having neglected the defence of Greenland, Denmark’s defence minister said Wednesday that it would “strengthen” its military presence in the Arctic territory and was in dialogue with allies in NATO.

“We will continue to strengthen our military presence in Greenland, but we will also have an even greater focus within NATO on more exercises and an increased NATO presence in the Arctic,” Troels Lund Poulsen wrote in a statement to AFP, hours before a meeting between Greenlandic, Danish and US officials at the White House on the future of the autonomous Danish territory.

Lund Poulsen added that Denmark “has an ongoing dialogue with its allies about new and increased activities in 2026.”

France to open consulate in Greenland in February 

France will open a consulate in Greenland on Feb. 6, the foreign minister said Wednesday, calling the move a “political signal” over the strategic Danish territory, which US President Donald Trump has vowed to seize.

The comments came on the day Denmark’s top diplomat is to meet senior US officials at the White House for talks over the future of the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island.

Since returning to office nearly a year ago, Trump has repeatedly mused about taking over Greenland from longtime ally and European Union member Denmark.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French RTL broadcaster that the decision to open the consulate was taken last summer, when President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland in a show of support.

“For my part, I went there at the end of August to plan the consulate, which will open on Feb. 6,” he said.

“It’s a political signal that’s associated with a desire to be more present in Greenland, including in the scientific field.”

“Greenland does not want to be owned, governed or integrated into the United States. Greenland has made the choice of Denmark, NATO and the (European) Union,” he said.

Greenland’s leader has said the island would choose to remain an autonomous territory of Denmark over the United States.

Trump has said the United States needs Greenland due to the threat of a takeover by Russia or China.

The two rival powers have both stepped up activity in the Arctic, where ice is melting due to climate change, but neither claims Greenland, where the United States has long had a military base.