Denmark rushes more troops to Greenland amid Trump’s threats | World | News
Denmark has announced a larger number of Danish combat soldiers is set to reach Greenland later today, just hours after Donald Trump issued his latest takeover threat.
The Danish Armed Forces said “a substantial contribution” is expected to arrive in Kangerlussuaq. The soldiers will contribute to the troop buildup of Danish soldiers that is currently taking place, Danish TV2 reported.
The Danish TV channel also said Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said recent demonstrations in the country as well as in Denmark, have shown “strong and dignified unity”. He also said Trump’s threats of tariffs do not change the Greenlandic line. “We will not be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, respect, and international law,” Nielsen also said.
Previously, the head of the Arctic Command, Søren Andersen, stated that approximately 100 Danish soldiers have already arrived in Nuuk and a similar number in Kangerlussuaq. Here they will begin the “Arctic Endurance” exercise, which has been accelerated and intensified as a result of the latest statements from Donald Trump. This comes after the US President said today that NATO has been telling Denmark for 20 years “to get the Russian threat away from Greenland,” with a post on Truth.
The US president said he would charge the UK a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland – all of whom are members of Nato. He has not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the whole country to unite in the face of Donald Trump’s threats to invade Greenland and slap tariffs on the UK and other European allies. He also said the dispute over Greenland, which Mr Trump wants to take over because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth, should be resolved through “calm discussion between allies” rather than military action or a trade war.
“I don’t think it’s right for us to choose between the US and Europe. That’s not a new position today. That’s the position I’ve consistently held, as have previous governments.
“Because we are allies with our European partners and allies with the US, and the strength in being able to keep both those alliances has served us well over the last 80 years,” he also said, adding he will speak to the US president about Greenland again “in the coming days”.
Recently, President Trump has repeatedly said the US “needs Greenland” for their national security. Danish foreign ministers said Copenhagen and Washington were in “fundamental disagreement” over the future of the Arctic island.
