Germany to send military personnel to Greenland for multinational mission

BERLIN -- The German Ministry of Defense on Wednesday announced that it will participate in a multinational reconnaissance mission in Greenland to assess potential military contributions to regional security.

At the invitation of Denmark, a team of 13 personnel from the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, will join other European nations for the mission in Greenland, according to the ministry.

The team is set to depart for Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Thursday morning.

The aim of the mission is to explore framework conditions for potential military support to Denmark in ensuring security in the region. For example, the team will look into capabilities such as maritime surveillance, the ministry said.

The Danish Ministry of Defense confirmed Wednesday that Denmark is increasing its military presence in and around Greenland, working closely with NATO allies.

On the same day, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that Sweden had sent military personnel to Greenland at Denmark's request. Norway has also said that it is sending two military staffers to Greenland to "map out the further cooperation between allies."

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat.