War exercises in Greenland
Several European NATO countries, including Germany, conduct war exercises in and around Greenland. Manoeuvres directed against Russia, but also indicate opposition to Trump’s annexation plans.
NUUK/COPENHAGEN/BERLIN (own report) – Conducting war exercises in and around Greenland, several European NATO countries, including Germany, are demonstrating their opposition to the United States’ demand for annexation of the Danish island. President Donald Trump has repeatedly affirmed his desire to incorporate Greenland into the US and has not ruled out the use of military force. Several American intelligence agencies have initiated initial subversive activities to identify supporters and opponents of the United States in Greenland and to stir up some initial unrest. Following a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Greenland’s capital Nuuk in mid-June, a German naval supply ship, ‘Berlin’ arrived there for the first time. Nils Schmid, Parliamentary State Secretary in Germany’s Ministry of Defence, also travelled there to convey the message that for Berlin, “the security of Greenland” is not just a matter of “lip service”. The exercises, led by Denmark, are intended to signal future EU support for preventing a US annexation. They are also part of a militarisation of the Danish island that is gaining momentum – a militarisation in the context of the power struggle with Russia.
First subversive steps
Right from the outset, the Trump administration launched covert activities designed to enable Greenland’s secession from Denmark and its annexation by the United States. Back in early May the Wall Street Journal reported that several US intelligence agencies – including the CIA and the NSA – had begun tasked with gathering information about the movement in Greenland for independence from Denmark. This, the newspaper commented, was “one of the first concrete steps” towards the President’s “oft-stated desire to acquire Greenland”.[1] At the end of August, the public broadcaster Danish Radio (DR), citing government and intelligence sources, reported that initial US espionage operations were now gaining momentum. Two former staff members of the Trump Administration and a person from his personal circle had, it was reported, been drawing up preliminary lists: one recording Greenlandic supporters of the United States and another identifying opponents of Greenland’s accession to the US.[2] These regime change operatives were also looking at issues that could be instrumentalised to stir up local feelings against the Kingdom of Denmark, within which Greenland is a self-governing entity. They were also found to be sounding out politicians, businesspeople and potential activists in Greenland.
‘A strong signal’
Other European countries have now begun to back Denmark against the US, not only with words but also with military gestures. At the end of January, the chair of the EU Military Committee, Austrian General Robert Brieger, was already advocating the stationing in Greenland of troops from EU member states. “This,” Brieger said, “would send a strong signal.”[3] So far, however, it has not happened. On 15 June, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, the first foreign head of state to visit the country. Accompanied by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Macron demonstratively boarded a Danish frigate anchored in the port of Nuuk. Macron then met with Frederiksen and Greenland’s head of government Jens-Frederik Nielsen for talks. The French leader emphasised that he had undertaken his trip “to express the solidarity of France and the European Union for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this territory.” All borders in the region must be “inviolable”, he stressed,[4] adding that France was ready at any time to hold “joint manoeuvres” with other countries in the Arctic region to reinforce this demand.
‘Not just lip service’
In mid-August, Germany also made its presence felt in Greenland. On 16 August, the ‘Berlin’, a naval tanker supply ship, was the first ever German warship to enter the port of Nuuk. The official reason given was to conduct North Atlantic anti-submarine exercises. These involve manoeuvres to practise the prevention of Russian submarines from passing through the ‘GIUK gap’ (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) into the North Atlantic, where they would be able to attack military supplies from North America to Europe in the event of war. In fact there was another aim: to demonstrate a military presence in Greenland. On 18 August, Nils Schmid, Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Defence Ministry, also arrived in Nuuk. Schmid went on board the Triton, a patrol ship of the Royal Danish Navy, which was moored there, to hold talks with Denmark’s Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Vivian Motzfeld. In a joint statement, they said that not only “stability in the Arctic” but also “the security of Greenland” and “solidarity with our allies” were “for us, not just lip service”.[5] A visit by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to Nuuk has been announced for September.
Manoeuvres without US troops
At the beginning of last week, several European NATO countries began military exercises in and around Greenland. The manoeuvres are scheduled to last until the end of this week. Troops from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany are taking part in ‘Arctic Light 2025’, a war exercise led by Denmark. A total of around 550 soldiers are reported to be involved. There are land, sea and air units from Denmark; a warship, tanker aircraft and a drone-equipped infantry unit from France, and primarily military observers from Germany. American troops are not participating in these manoeuvres.[6] Denmark’s Defence Minister Lund Poulsen said on Monday during a joint visit to the manoeuvre with his counterparts from Norway and Iceland that “the current security situation” was forcing “us to significantly strengthen the presence of armed forces in the Arctic.”[7] The manoeuvre was “a good example” of joint activities designed to “address threats in the Arctic”.
Against Russia
While the manoeuvre strengthens the European presence in Greenland and can be seen as taking a stand against the United States, it certainly contributes to the wider militarisation of the Arctic, not least, with Russia in mind. In January, Denmark concluded an agreement not only with Greenland but also with the Faroe Islands designed to “improve capabilities for surveillance and maintain sovereignty in the region”.[8] Commenting on the manoeuvre, Danish Major General Søren Andersen stated that Russia had been strengthening its positions in the Arctic “for the past 20 years”. The Danes believe that, after the end of the war in Ukraine, Russia will expand its presence elsewhere – possibly in the Arctic. Denmark is already taking a stand against this eventuality.
[1] Katherine Long, Alexander Ward: U.S. Orders Intelligence Agencies to Step Up Spying on Greenland. wsj.com 06.05.2025.
[2] Paul Kirby: US tells Denmark to ‘calm down’ over alleged Greenland influence operation. bbc.com 28.08.2025.
[3] See: Der Kampf um Grönland (I).
[4] Au Groenland, Emmanuel Macron exprime la solidarité européenne et critique la volonté d’annexion de Donald Trump. lemonde.fr 15.06.2025.
[5] Ole Henckel: Sicherheit im Hohen Norden: Deutschland beweist Handlungsfähigkeit. bmvg.de 19.08.2025.
[6] Arctic Light 2025: Denmark to Hold Military Exercise in Greenland with NATO Allies. highnorthnews.com 05.09.2025.
[7] Verteidigungsminister nordischer Staaten nehmen an Militärmanöver teil. zeit.de 15.09.2025.
[8] Philipp Jenne: Denmark leads an exercise in Greenland, with Russia in mind at a time of tensions with the US. apnews.com 16.09.2025.
