Arctic Tensions Escalate as NATO Allies Deploy Troops to Greenland Amid Trump’s Push for U.S. Control

By James Morley III | Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:43 PM EST

Multiple NATO nations have sent military personnel to Greenland following unsuccessful talks between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. The move highlights growing security concerns in the Arctic region and President Donald Trump’s renewed demands for U.S. control of the strategically important island.

Sweden confirmed it is dispatching armed forces to Greenland at Denmark’s request as part of a larger alliance presence. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces arrived in Greenland on Wednesday. “Several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland today,” he said in a post on X, “They are part of a group from several allied countries. Together, they will prepare for upcoming elements within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance. It is at Denmark’s request that Sweden is sending personnel from the Armed Forces.”

Germany’s Defense Ministry also announced it will send 13 soldiers to Greenland, while France confirmed its commitment to contributing troops as well.

The deployments follow a high-level meeting in Washington between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials that concluded without agreement. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen explicitly rejected Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland, calling the idea “totally unacceptable” for both Denmark and Greenland.

Rasmussen emphasized that while Denmark remains committed to cooperation with the United States and NATO on Arctic security, it draws a firm line on sovereignty. “The president has made his view clear, and we have a different position,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security due to its strategic location and the growing competition with Russia and China in the Arctic. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump stated: “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building.” He warned that without U.S. control, “Russia or China will” take advantage.

Trump also claimed NATO’s military effectiveness hinges on U.S. power and insisted the alliance would be “far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” labeling any alternative “unacceptable.”

Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark’s Kingdom, has gained strategic importance as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping routes and access to rare earth minerals. The idea of purchasing Greenland was first raised during Trump’s first term but was rejected by Denmark and Greenland—a stance that remains unchanged despite renewed U.S. pressure.

The presence of allied troops signals a European effort to strengthen sovereignty and collective defense in the Arctic as tensions rise.