The US president insists on acquiring the island to counter Russia and China, while the Danish government and local authorities are strengthening the defense and autonomy of the Arctic territory.
On Wednesday, the Danish army deployed elite units to Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory whose geopolitical importance has grown in recent years and which has been a target of interest for Donald Trump. According to the Danish Arctic Command, for the first time, specialists from the Jaegerkorpset special forces unit are operating on the Blosseville Coast, one of the most rugged regions of the territory. The deployment is intended to reinforce the Danish presence in the Arctic, in a context marked by international competition in the region.
In parallel, the Danish frigate Peter Willemoes is participating in the Arctic Endurance military exercise, which brings together forces from several European countries and began last week in Greenland, according to the Danish broadcaster DR. In addition, the French frigate Bretagne is conducting joint maneuvers with the Danish vessel Thetis in the North Atlantic, the Arctic Command indicated.
Meanwhile, the Greenlandic government released a new guide on Wednesday for the population to deal with potential crisis situations. As explained by the Minister of Self-Sufficiency, Peter Borg, the document constitutes an “insurance policy” that they hope they will not have to use. The guide, presented at a press conference in Nuuk, recommends storing food and water for five days, as well as hunting weapons, ammunition, and fishing equipment. The material was prepared “in light of the reality of power outages of varying durations,” according to the Greenlandic government.
The population of Greenland, consisting of approximately 57,000 people, mostly Inuit, maintains a tradition of subsistence based on hunting and fishing. According to a survey conducted in January 2025, 85% of Greenlanders oppose integration with the United States, while only 6% support it. On the international stage, US President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland this Wednesday at the Davos Forum, arguing the need to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic and preserve global stability, according to statements reported by DR and the Greenlandic government. Trump assured that he "will not use force" to take the island, but demanded the start of "immediate negotiations" for its acquisition, a move that has generated concern among European and NATO allies.
Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, ruled out the possibility of a military operation against the territory on Tuesday, although he stressed the need to be prepared for any eventuality.
Carney and Rutte commit to the "sovereignty and integrity" of Denmark and Greenland
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark, including Greenland, during a meeting held this Wednesday on the sidelines of the Davos Forum, according to a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Among the topics discussed were the "test" facing the Atlantic Alliance in light of Washington's attempts to acquire Greenland, as well as the importance of security in the Arctic, defense spending, and the situation in Ukraine.
At the meeting, Carney and Rutte emphasized that any decision regarding the future of Greenland rests exclusively with Greenland and Denmark, according to the official statement. While the text does not explicitly mention the United States or President Donald Trump, both described the current situation facing the military alliance due to the US attempts to acquire the island as a "test."
The leaders indicated that the first response to this challenge must be to guarantee the security of the Arctic, which implies accelerating new investments in NATO's northwestern flank. Carney reminded Rutte that Canada is in the process of quadrupling its defense spending over the next few decades, including strengthening Canadian sovereignty over its Arctic regions. During the meeting, Carney and Rutte also discussed the situation in Ukraine and the peace talks, reiterating the importance of NATO support for advancing peace and security in the country affected by the Russian invasion, according to a statement released by the Canadian Prime Minister's Office.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
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