In 2025, United States President Donald Trump said that the United States should purchase Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark. Since then, and escalating in January 2026, Trump has alluded at a possible military annexation of Greenland. According to Trump, it would not be enough for Greenland to be under the sovereignty of a NATO ally, advocating instead for outright United States ownership of Greenland.[5]
The operation is taking place within the NATO framework, without United States participation and is being led by Denmark. The Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto found the operation superfluous and ridiculous, calling it a joke, and urged that it be carried out under NATO coordination.[6][7]
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Estonian participation. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2026)
On January 15, 2026, France, Germany, and Sweden sent military personnel to Greenland for joint military exercises to demonstrate readiness to defend the island.[8]
The small number of troops, about thirty men, landed on the island risked the operation looking unnecessary and ridiculous.[9][10][11] However, the initial military planners, reconnaissance teams, were not intended to deter U.S. action by themselves alone. They were to coordinate the arrival of larger land, sea, and air forces publicly pledged by France, and/or other European states: "As well as providing a show of political support, the European troops were said to be on a short scoping mission, according to one country involved. The aim was to establish what a more sustained ground deployment in Greenland could look like, partly to reassure the US that European NATO members were serious about Arctic security".[12]
"By the morning of January 15, the multinational group had gathered at the headquarters of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command (Arktisk Kommando) in Nuuk to assess the conditions for a possible wider allied deployment."[13]
Denmark
Denmark had already up to 150 troops stationed in Greenland available to be used for the operation prior to its beginning. They were mostly under the command of the Joint Arctic Command and they have recieved allied troops upon their mobilization on the island. They are equipped with unspecified numbers of Lockheed C-130 Hercules.[14][15][16]
France
On January 15, 2026, up to 15 French military personeel landed in Greenland, with the first report of this being confirmed by the french broadcaster Bfmtv.[17] They were drawn from the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade.[13]
French President Emmanuel Macron said during his New Year's address to the French Armed Forces, that day, that an "initial team of French soldiers is already on site and will be reinforced in the coming days by land, air and sea assets."[18]
Germany
Germany announced that they would send up to 13 soldiers which would be part of a German-led reconnaissance team.[19] The units were part of the Bundeswehr.[20]
Canada
There may be some confusion or differing sources as to the role of Canada. However, a Canadian Department of National Defence spokesperson said on 15 January 2026 that "As of this moment, the Canadian Armed Forces are not initiating any new operations in Greenland."[18]
The United Kingdom decided to send a single military officer to Greenland.[26]
Nations that refused to participate
Italy
Guido Crosetto defined the overall operation similiar to some kind of "joke" and stated that Italy would take a "rational stance" unlike its allies, hinting at the operation being "irrational". In the same statement he confirmed Italy had outright rejected to participate after being asked by Denmark.[27]
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Kingdom of Denmark 
