European troops in Greenland have no impact on Trump's plans 'at all' - White House

15 Jan 2026, 19:30 by David MacRedmond, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/david-macredmond/ · TheJournal.ie

LAST UPDATE | 19 hrs ago

THE DEPLOYMENT OF European troops in Greenland has no impact on US President Donald Trump’s plans to take control of the Arctic island from Denmark, the White House has said.

“I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing when asked about the deployment.

Earlier today French President Emmanuel Macron said that France would soon send more “land, air, and sea” forces to join a European military exercise in Greenland.

“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 told troops during a speech to start the new year.

Macron also warned that “peace is under threat” globally, and insisted that “France and the Europeans must continue to be present wherever their interests are threatened.”

Macron closed his speech with a stark warning, saying that “we live in a world where destabilising forces have awakened” and will continue to pose threats, as “certainties that sometimes lasted for decades are being called into question” by “competitors [Europe] never thought it would see” (seemingly hinting at the US).

His speech follows indications from numerous European nations that extra troops would be deployed in the region, seemingly to counter US threats.

Sweden, Germany and Norway also announced yesterday that they would deploy the soldiers as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland’s capital Nuuk.

The deployment of a 13-strong German reconnaissance team to Nuuk from today was at Denmark’s invitation, the German defence ministry said, adding it would run from Thursday to Sunday.

Macron pictured during a speech at Istres military air force base in southern France. Alamy Stock PhotoAlamy Stock Photo

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said today that the EU has “a strategic responsibility” in Greenland.

“Arctic security is inseparable from… European security,” Barrot said.

“We stand in support and solidarity with Denmark, just as we would hope to be able to count on Denmark’s support and solidarity if we found ourselves in the same situation today”.

Greenland “is a European territory that is placed under NATO protection,” Barrot said, adding: “NATO, NATO’s allies, European countries are fully capable of defending their territory against any threats, wherever they may come from”.

“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,” Greenland’s deputy prime minister Mute Egede told a news conference, adding they would be “training”.

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD today spoke with the Minister of European Affairs for Denmark, Marie Bjerre about the situation in Greenland and Byrne underlined Irish support for Denmark and Greenland.

Speaking after the call the Minister said: “I welcomed the opportunity to speak with Minister Bjerre today. Ireland and Denmark share a commitment to the international legal order and the UN Charter.

“Sovereignty is not a commodity to be bought and sold. Sovereignty derives from the people. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of other States is non-negotiable, and the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and the Greenlandic people, in line with well-established democratic principles and international law.”