Robert Brieger, the European Union’s top military official, has floated the idea of stationing EU troops in Greenland, following the United States’ lead.
In an interview with Die Welt on January 25, Brieger, who chairs the EU Military Committee, highlighted Greenland’s strategic value. “In my view, it would make perfect sense not only to station US forces in Greenland, as has been the case to date, but also to consider stationing EU soldiers there in the future,” he said.
Greenland’s location, situated along the shortest route between Europe and North America, makes it a critical geopolitical hub. Brieger also warned that the melting ice in the region could escalate global tensions, drawing attention from powers like Russia and China. He argued, “Soldiers from the EU could contribute to monitoring peace.”
However, Brieger acknowledged that deploying troops would require political approval, as the EU Military Committee serves only an advisory role. His remarks align with increased European interest in Greenland, especially after former US President Donald Trump expressed a desire to purchase the Danish-controlled territory. Trump recently doubled down on this notion, saying, “I do believe Greenland, we’ll get, because it really has to do with freedom of the world.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede firmly rejected the idea, reiterating that “Greenland is not for sale.” Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sought to deepen ties with Greenland. In March 2024, the EU inaugurated an office in Nuuk, the territory’s capital, following a strategic raw-materials partnership agreement signed in November 2023. This agreement focuses on securing sustainable supplies of critical materials essential to the EU’s green energy goals.
Brieger’s proposal, while potentially strengthening EU-Greenland ties, could stir tensions between the EU and the US. Analysts caution that such a move might complicate the delicate balance of interests in the Arctic region. Nonetheless, the EU’s growing presence in Greenland signals its determination to secure strategic and environmental advantages in this geopolitically significant territory.
