US Denies Plans to Increase Military Presence in Greenland

US Denies Plans to Increase Military Presence in Greenland

COPENHAGEN: The US embassy in Copenhagen announced on Thursday that there are no immediate intentions to bolster the country’s military footprint in Greenland, following President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed interest in purchasing the large Arctic territory.

Trump, set to assume office on January 20, declared that US control over the strategically vital island was an “absolute necessity” and did not dismiss the possibility of employing military or economic measures, including tariffs against Denmark, to achieve this goal. Greenland, the largest island in the world, has been administered by Denmark for centuries despite its 57,000 inhabitants now overseeing their local affairs.

“There are currently no plans to expand the United States’ existing military presence in Greenland,” a spokesperson informed Reuters. “We will continue collaborating closely with Copenhagen and Nuuk (the capital of Greenland) to ensure that any proposals align with our mutual security requirements.” The US military maintains a steady presence at the Pituffik airbase in the northwestern part of Greenland.

Greenland holds significant importance for the US military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, as the quickest route from Europe to North America passes through the island.

Russian officials announced on Thursday that they were closely monitoring the “dramatic developments” concerning Greenland, asserting that the Arctic falls within Russia’s strategic national interests. “We are observing this situation, which thankfully remains at the level of statements for now,” stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “We aim to maintain peace and stability in this area and are prepared to cooperate with any stakeholders for the sake of this peace and stability,” he added.

He also suggested that the voices of Greenland’s residents should be taken into account regarding their preferences, referencing Russia’s annexation of four regions in Ukraine in 2022 based on referendums. “We should extend the same respect for the opinions of these individuals,” Peskov remarked.

On Thursday, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, emphasized that Greenland’s sovereignty should be upheld. “Greenland belongs to Denmark,” Kallas told reporters. “We must honor the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland.”

Kallas mentioned that she had spoken with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen following Trump’s remarks. “She assured me that Danish-American relations remain very strong,” Kallas stated. “She also mentioned that it is positive the president-elect is showing interest in the Arctic, a critical region for both security and climate change.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserted that “borders should not be altered through force. This principle applies universally, whether in the East or the West.” He further expressed that “there is a sense of unease among our European partners regarding the recent statements from the US. We must stand united,” he shared in English on X.

On Thursday, Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed his belief that Trump recognized Greenland as part of Denmark, suggesting that concerns about Russian and Chinese maneuvers in the Arctic underpinned the president-elect’s comments. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed the notion that the United States would resort to force to take control of Greenland or the Panama Canal, stating that Trump’s comments were directed at China.

“I can confidently dismiss the idea that the United States will attempt to annex territories by force in the coming years,” Meloni stated during her annual press conference. She indicated that Trump’s statements served “more as a message to… other major global players.” Meloni pointed out that the Panama Canal and Greenland are areas where Chinese involvement has increased recently.

Due to Denmark’s membership in NATO, Greenland is already under US security assurances. While the former colony is now largely self-governing within Denmark, Copenhagen still manages security and foreign policy matters.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated this week that she found it hard to believe that the United States would resort to military action in Greenland and emphasized that it should be the decision of the Greenlandic people. Frederiksen gathered leaders of Denmark’s political parties for a briefing regarding Trump’s renewed interest. She turned down Trump’s 2019 proposal to purchase Greenland. On Wednesday, Frederiksen welcomed Greenland’s leader, Mute Egede, for discussions in Copenhagen, where Egede advocates for his country’s independence. According to the embassy, Egede also spoke with the outgoing US ambassador in Copenhagen about trade and other matters on Wednesday.