Europe moves to boost NATO Arctic presence to counter Trump’s Greenland rhetoric/threat

Summary:

• UK and Germany are leading talks on boosting European and NATO military presence in Greenland.

• Germany plans to propose a NATO Arctic mission, Arctic Sentry, modelled on Baltic Sentry.

• Move aims to undercut Trump’s argument that the US must control Greenland for security.

• European concern has intensified after recent US military action in Venezuela.

• Denmark seeks diplomacy to counter what it calls exaggerated US security claims.

European powers led by the UK and Germany are discussing plans to expand their military presence in Greenland and the wider Arctic, aiming to demonstrate that Europe and NATO already have regional security under control and to blunt renewed rhetoric from Donald Trump about US ownership of the island, Bloomberg (gated) reported.

Germany is preparing to propose a joint NATO Arctic mission, informally dubbed Arctic Sentry, modelled on the alliance’s Baltic Sentry operation, according to people familiar with the discussions. The move would signal a stronger allied footprint in the High North amid rising concern over Russia and China’s Arctic ambitions.

The push follows Trump’s repeated claims that the US must control Greenland to prevent Russian or Chinese encroachment, assertions rejected by Nordic governments. European leaders are increasingly alarmed by the president’s recent rhetoric and actions, including a US raid to capture Venezuela’s leader, which has sharpened fears about Washington’s willingness to use force to achieve foreign-policy goals.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged allies to increase their security presence in the Arctic and has held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Starmer has also spoken directly with Trump, stressing the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the region.

Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, is set to raise Greenland and NATO’s role in Arctic stability during talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week. Denmark, meanwhile, hopes an imminent diplomatic visit to Washington can temper tensions and correct what it says are exaggerated security claims.

While Trump has said he prefers to “make a deal” to acquire Greenland, he has not ruled out the use of force. Rubio has since told lawmakers that Washington’s aim remains a purchase rather than military intervention — an assurance closely watched by European capitals wary of strain on NATO unity.