EU leaders discussed the possibility of a permanent NATO presence on Greenland during a defense summit in Brussels on Monday. The discussion follows a request from US President Donald Trump for a greater US military presence on the island.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the EU's defense committee, argued for a NATO presence on Greenland, citing the melting of the Arctic ice cap as a growing security concern. She stated that the melting ice could allow Russian and Chinese ships to access the North Atlantic, making a NATO presence essential.
Strack-Zimmermann also emphasized the need for European partners to participate in any NATO deployment on Greenland, stating that it would demonstrate to the US that it does not have sole jurisdiction over the area. She suggested that the German military could contribute to the effort, given its expertise in monitoring Russian submarines.
Philip Krämer, a Green Party defense policy expert, echoed Strack-Zimmermann's sentiments, highlighting Greenland's strategic location for monitoring Russian nuclear submarines. He emphasized the expertise of the German Navy in this area, noting that their capabilities are valued by US and British allies.
Johann Wadephul, the CDU's deputy parliamentary leader for foreign and defense policy, proposed integrating existing US military facilities in Greenland into NATO structures. He argued that Greenland alone may not be able to handle the challenges posed by Russia and China, and that strengthening US facilities with troops from other NATO members could be a solution.