Denmark Bundeswehr team starts reconnaissance mission on Greenland
In view of the conflict over US ownership claims to Greenland, the Bundeswehr team is embarking on a European reconnaissance mission on the Arctic island. The 15 German soldiers and other military personnel from other European countries arrived on the world's largest island on Friday evening. However, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned against underestimating the USA and called for a clear response from NATO and the EU to the US claims. US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose his plans.
17.01.2026, 08:54
SDA
Demonstrations against the US claims are expected in several cities on Greenland this afternoon.
Europeans want to increase security on Arctic island
The largely autonomous Greenland is part of Denmark's territory. Trump has repeatedly made it clear that the US wants to incorporate the largely ice-covered island - something that most European NATO partners vehemently oppose. Crisis talks between the USA, Denmark and Greenland recently failed to bring about a rapprochement. Trump argues that Greenland must belong to the USA to prevent the Russians and Chinese from gaining additional influence in the region.
Germany and other European NATO members now want to ensure greater security on the huge Arctic island. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands are among those sending teams.
According to the Ministry of Defense in Berlin, the soldiers are to examine the conditions for joint military exercises. The question is whether the Arctic is safe and to what extent Germany and its NATO partners can contribute to this, said the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense in Berlin. The German team - 15 men and women - consists of logisticians and experts from various fields.
The reconnaissance mission is being led by Denmark. The Bundeswehr team first flew to Karup in Denmark on Thursday and arrived in Greenland on Friday.
Stoltenberg does not want to speculate about Trump's reasons
Former NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said in an interview with Der Spiegel: "We have to take the fact that the United States has declared that it wants to take control of Greenland seriously." He rejected speculation about Trump's possible motives for wanting to annex the island. "I take note of what Trump and other US representatives say: they cite security interests of the United States, and sometimes they talk about natural resources," said the Norwegian finance minister. "I can only refer to that and don't want to speculate on what other potential reasons there might be."
Clarity required from NATO and the EU
The NATO defense alliance and the EU must now respond to the US president's threats with clarity. "I welcome the fact that there have been clear joint statements - from the Nordic states, from Germany, from other European states - that Greenland belongs to Denmark and that they stand behind Denmark," said Stoltenberg. There should be no speculation about possible consequences. "The most important thing now is to prevent further measures."
Italy not part of the mission
Italy, a founding member of NATO, does not want to deploy any soldiers for the fact-finding mission with other European partner states. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called this a "joke".
At the same time, the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presented its own Arctic strategy. Meloni had made it clear in the past that she did not support military action by the USA and that such action was not in anyone's interest. Meloni is considered a sympathizer of US President Donald Trump and one of his most important allies in Europe.
Trump is considering new tariffs
Meanwhile, Trump has threatened countries that oppose his claim to ownership of Greenland with tariffs. He may impose tariffs on such countries because the USA needs Greenland for its national security, Trump said at the White House in Washington. He was not more specific at first. He had previously spoken about how he had threatened European countries such as Germany and France with tariffs in other contexts in order to assert his interests.
