France To Send More 'Land, Air, Sea' Forces To Greenland, Says Macron Amid US Threats

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 18:36 IST

France, Germany, and Nordic countries have confirmed participation in the European military mission to the territory.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his New Year's address to the armed forces at the Istres military air force base. (AFP photo)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said France would soon send additional land, air, and sea forces to Greenland to join a European military exercise, following threats by the United States over the Arctic territory.

“A first team of French service members is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and maritime assets," Macron said during a New Year speech to troops.

The move comes amid rising tensions over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.

More NATO troops are expected in Greenland, the Arctic island’s deputy prime minister, Mute Egede, said on Wednesday. “Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships," he said, adding that the forces would be there for training exercises.

France, Germany, and Nordic countries have confirmed participation in the European military mission to the territory. Their deployments aim to reassure the US about Greenland’s security after a high-level White House meeting failed to resolve disagreements between Washington, Denmark, and Greenland over the island’s status.

Poland, however, will not send troops. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned that an attack by one NATO country on the territory of another would be “the end of the world as we know it" and called it a potential political disaster. He stressed the need for European unity and NATO solidarity to prevent escalation.

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland is vital for US security and has suggested that Washington must own it to prevent Russian or Chinese influence. All options, he said, remain on the table to secure the territory.

Meanwhile, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsenhas has called for dialogue to resolve tensions over the territory.

“Dialogue and diplomacy are the right way forward, even when the stakes are high and the pressure is palpable," Nielsen said in a statement on Facebook. He further hailed the fact that dialogue was now “underway" following high-level talks at the White House that failed to resolve differences on the issue.

(With inputs from AFP)

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