Denmark and allies boost Arctic presence
In Copenhagen, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced a stepped-up military presence in the Arctic “in close cooperation with our allies,” citing a security environment in which “no one can predict what will happen tomorrow.” Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden announced their personnel were traveling to Greenland for joint exercises or to map out further military cooperation. A NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity because not authorized to comment publicly, said the alliance is also reviewing how member nations can collectively strengthen their Arctic presence.
Trump sought to enlist NATO support before Wednesday’s meeting, posting on social media that “NATO should be leading the way” for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sought distance from the dispute between the United States and other alliance members unsettled by Trump’s approach toward Denmark.
Bipartisan senators voice concern
Rasmussen and Motzfeldt also met Wednesday with a bipartisan group of senators from the Arctic Caucus, who said Trump’s push risked damaging NATO and benefiting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has introduced legislation to block any U.S. action in Greenland, called the discussions “stunning.” “We are operating in times where we are having conversations about things that we never even thought possible,” Murkowski said.
Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, called the argument that the U.S. needs to control Greenland for national security “nonsense.” The Danish and Greenlandic officials were “very open to additional national security assets in Greenland in order to meet whatever risks there are,” King said. A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers was scheduled to travel to Copenhagen later in the week to demonstrate solidarity with Denmark.
Greenlanders question Trump’s rationale
The dispute has drawn international journalists to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, where residents have questioned Trump’s stated rationale. “Trump is unpredictable,” said Geng Lastein, who immigrated to Greenland 18 years ago from the Philippines. Maya Martinsen, 21, said she does not accept Trump’s security arguments. “It’s just home to me,” Martinsen said. “I think the Americans just see some kind of business trade.”
Greenland is strategically significant because melting Arctic ice is opening shorter trade routes to Asia and could ease extraction of critical mineral deposits used in electronics. Trump has described the island as “vital” to the United States’ Golden Dome missile defense program and has cited Russian and Chinese activity in the region as justification for acquisition — claims disputed by experts and Greenlanders.
Denmark has noted the U.S. already maintains a military presence in Greenland under a 1951 treaty granting broad rights to establish bases there with the consent of Denmark and Greenland. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, named by Trump last month as a special envoy to Greenland, did not attend Wednesday’s White House meeting but was scheduled to travel to Washington later in the week for meetings that include the Greenland matter, his spokesperson said.