EU military chief says it would make sense to put European troops in Greenland along with U.S. forces
The top European Union military official, Robert Brieger, said it would make sense to station troops from EU countries in Greenland, according to an interview with Germany’s Welt am Sonntag published on Saturday.
“In my view, it would make perfect sense not only to station U.S. forces in Greenland, as has been the case to date, but also to consider stationing EU soldiers there in the future,” the chairman of the European Union Military Committee said.
Ultimately, such a step would require a political decision, the Austrian-born general said. The military committee is the highest military office of the European Council, but it serves as a consultative body since the bloc has no dedicated army.
U.S.-led NATO is the main military alliance for the EU.
Although Greenland is not part of the EU as an overseas territory of Denmark, Europeans, as well as the U.S., have interests in Greenland, the general added, citing its raw materials and strategic location.
Trump has expressed an interest in making Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, part of the United States. He has not ruled out using military or economic power to persuade Denmark to hand it over.
Greenland’s strategic location along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system, has made it a priority for Trump.
The Financial Times reported on Friday that last week’s call between Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, and President Donald Trump was fiery, with Trump insisting he was serious about his determination to take over Greenland.
“Arctic security was not on the agenda, but it was agreed that it will be discussed between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland at a later date, the Danish ministry said on Friday.
