France initiated NATO training in Greenland amid statements by the United States
France has proposed holding NATO exercises in Greenland amid statements from Washington about the possible annexation of the island. This was reported on Wednesday, 21 January, by AFP, citing the office of President Emmanuel Macron.
The initiative came a few hours before US President Donald Trump's arrival in Davos for the World Economic Forum. The American leader is expected to raise the issue of Greenland again, despite objections from the island's residents, Denmark and a number of European states. Since both the US and Denmark are members of NATO, the intensification of the debate over autonomy creates risks of tension within the defence alliance.
In January, Greenland hosted the Arctic Endurance military exercises organised by Denmark. Units from Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK joined in. In particular, Berlin sent a Bundeswehr reconnaissance group to the island to assess the possibilities for military support for Copenhagen. After that, on 16 January, Trump threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on countries that sent their troops to Greenland from 1 February. The very next day, a group of 15 German soldiers left the island, although the German Ministry of Defence stated that the mission had not been terminated early.
The day before in Davos, Macron stressed that Europe would not bow to pressure from the US and would not agree to live by the principle of force. According to him, ignoring international law and returning to imperial ambitions creates a dangerous world without rules.
Source and photo by DW
