France requests NATO exercises in Greenland amid growing tensions with the US following President Trump’s claims of ownership.
NATO Military Exercises in Greenland? France Appeals to Allies
The Greenland issue is causing growing tensions in relations between Paris and Washington. The Élysée Palace announced in a statement that France is requesting NATO exercises in Greenland and is prepared to contribute. The statement appeared just hours after Donald Trump confirmed at a press conference his plans to take over this territory.
French Troops Deployed Without American Participation
Last week, France sent about fifteen military personnel from its mountain Chasseurs Alpins units to the island to participate in an international reconnaissance mission – without American participation. This angered the White House, especially as the French president announced the deployment of additional land, air, and sea forces to Greenland. However, as reported by ‘L’Express’, Paris does not currently plan such an operation.
Trump on Greenland: “Please Give Me a Piece of Ice”
Meanwhile, Washington is pressuring France, among other things by threatening to impose high tariffs on French wines. On Tuesday (January 20) in Davos, Emmanuel Macron condemned Donald Trump’s threats and accused him of seeking to subordinate Europe.
On Wednesday (January 21) during a speech in Davos, the American president again returned to the topic of Greenland. He said that “The United States wants Greenland, which they already had as a trustee.” He emphasized that the US needs it to deter enemies and build a golden dome there.
“Please give me a piece of ice, placed in a location that can play a key role in world peace and world protection. This is little compared to what we have given for decades,” Trump said. He added that he “incredibly respects the residents of Greenland and Denmark, but all NATO allies are obligated to maintain the defense capabilities of their territory, and no country other than the US is able to secure Greenland.”