Macron Announces Joint Military Exercises with Denmark in Greenland
Macron: France will participate in joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, Operation Arctic Endurance (‘Opération Endurance Arctique’). The first French military elements are already on their way. Others will follow,”
The French Army will begin joint military exercises with Denmark in Greenland. Photo EFE
January 14, 2026 Hour: 9:06 pm
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that the French Army will begin joint military exercises with Denmark in Greenland and confirmed that the first troops are already en route to this Danish autonomous territory that Washington seeks to annex.
“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, Operation Arctic Endurance (‘Opération Endurance Arctique’). The first French military elements are already on their way. Others will follow,” Macron posted on his Twitter account.
Previously, sources from the French Ministry of Defense had already announced that the country would join a European military mission in Greenland. Macron has convened a Defense Council meeting for early Thursday morning to discuss the situation on the island, as well as the events in Iran, according to sources at the Élysée Palace.
The French announcement follows similar announcements today by Germany, Sweden, and Norway, which have indicated they will send officials to Greenland to jointly explore ways to cooperate and increase security in the region.
“At Denmark’s invitation, Germany will participate with other European nations in a reconnaissance mission in Greenland between January 15 and 17,” the German Foreign Ministry reported.
A meeting without agreement
This Wednesday, representatives from the United States, Denmark, and Greenland met in Washington without reaching an agreement on the island’s future, beyond the creation of a working group to address “fundamental disagreements.”
US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, at the White House. Following a meeting of approximately 50 minutes, Danish officials confirmed that positions remain at odds due to President Donald Trump’s desire to annex the Arctic territory.
The European nation considers any proposal that does not respect the territorial integrity of Greenland—an autonomous territory of Denmark—and the right to self-determination of the Greenlandic people to be completely unacceptable.
Trump’s statements
On Wednesday, prior to the meeting, Trump stated on the Truth Social platform that with Greenland “in the hands” of the United States, NATO would be much more effective, adding that any other option is “unacceptable.”
Hours before the diplomatic meeting, the Danish Ministry of Defense announced an immediate increase in its military presence in Greenland and military exercises in this Danish autonomous territory, in collaboration with its NATO allies, due to heightened tensions in the Arctic.
In recent days, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had already indicated the need to reinforce the allied presence on the Arctic island, while several European countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, had suggested using this approach to allay Trump’s alleged concerns about Greenland’s security in the face of Russia and China—an argument he uses to justify the need for annexation.
Author: HGV
Source: Agencias
