US downplays European troops in Greenland

"Soldiers from several European countries, including Germany and France, began arriving in Greenland on Thursday for what they said is a reconnaissance mission. The troop movements come amid a rift between the US and its European partners over the future of the strategically located Arctic island. Greenland, which has a population just under 57,000, is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains responsibility for the island's defense and foreign policy."

"But US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to acquire Greenland, by again saying that it's critical to US national security amid rising Russian and Chinese interest in the region. The latest mission is intended to signal European unity and send a message to the US. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was "to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution," according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system. The United States also maintains a military base on Greenland."

"White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the mission and said it would have no impact on Trump's decision-making or goal of acquiring Greenland. "The president has made his priority quite clear, that he wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it's in our best national security to do that," she said. The US, Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday held talks to resolve the conflict over US ownership claims, without success."

European soldiers, including forces from Germany and France, arrived in Greenland on a reconnaissance mission amid tensions with the United States over the island's future. The movement followed US President Donald Trump's public interest in acquiring Greenland, framed as a national security concern because of rising Russian and Chinese activity. Denmark plans a larger, more permanent military presence with rotating NATO contributions. The United States maintains a military base on Greenland. White House officials said the deployments would not affect US intentions. Talks among the US, Denmark and Greenland to resolve ownership disputes produced no agreement.

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