France floated sending troops to Greenland
France floated sending troops to Greenland, foreign minister says
Jean-Noël Barrot notes that sending European troops to Greenland is not an option right now.
Politico • January 28, 2025 ~ LeMonde EurAsiaDaily
PARIS — France has discussed with Denmark sending troops to Greenland in response to United States President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex the Danish territory, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.
Asked about calls to send EU troops to Greenland, Barrot said in an interview with France’s Sud Radio that France had “started discussing [troop deployment] with Denmark,” but that it was not “Denmark’s wish” to proceed with the idea.
Barrot’s comments came as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was in the middle of a lightning tour of European capitals to drum up support from allies in dealing with Trump.
The newly inaugurated US president has become increasingly focused on claiming the huge Arctic island, and has pointedly not ruled out using military force or economic coercion to take it from Denmark later in the day.
Frederiksen was in Berlin and Paris Tuesday morning to speak with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, respectively, and is set to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels.
“If Denmark calls for help, France will be there,” he said. “The European borders are sovereign whether it’s north, south, east and west … nobody can allow themselves to mess around with our borders.”
Barrot also said that during a European Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday, his counterparts had expressed their “very strong support” for Copenhagen and “were ready to consider [sending troops]” if needed.
The French foreign minister, however, said he did not believe the US would invade Greenland. “It won’t happen, people don’t invade EU territories,” he said.
Denmark boosts Arctic security
Denmark announced Monday that it would spend 14.6 billion kroner ($2 billion) to bolster security in the strategic Arctic region. It said it would send three new frigates to the region, as well as long-distance drones equipped with advanced imaging capabilities. It would also reinforce its satellite capabilities.
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