France to send extra forces to Greenland in coming days: Macron

PARIS -- A first team of French military personnel is already on the ground in Greenland and will be reinforced in the coming days with extra "land, air and maritime assets," French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday during his New Year address to the armed forces at the Istres air base.

Earlier in the day, Macron said on X that at Denmark's request, France had decided to take part in joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland.

In his address, Macron said France and its European partners must continue to be present "wherever their interests are threatened, without escalation, but uncompromising on respect for territorial sovereignty."

Also on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the European Union has a "strategic responsibility" in Greenland because "Arctic security is inseparable from our own," French news channel BFMTV reported.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Latvian counterpart in Riga, he said that by taking part in the joint exercise, France and its partners were making "a choice of lucidity and solidarity with Denmark."

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.

Also on Wednesday, 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.