The military exercise comes amid security concerns over Russia's influence, and claims to the island by Donald Trump

Denmark did not invite the United States to take part in a large-scale international military exercise on Greenland this week, as it had previously, as tensions remain high over President Donald Trump’s intention to acquire the Danish territory.

The exercise, the largest in Greenland’s modern history, comes amid increased interest in the Arctic region and its vast natural resources from other large powers, such as Russia and China.

It included contributions from the militaries of several European NATO allies, according to the Danish military. More than 550 people and soldiers took part, including more than 70 from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden.

It comes as the Arctic region is becoming more of a priority to various superpowers, friend and foe. Greenland is the world’s largest island that is not a continent, and beyond its strategic potential, the island is rich in natural resources, home to 25 of the 34 minerals categorized as “critical raw materials” by the European Commission. Some of these minerals include those essential to the production of phones and computer chips.

Anderson emphasized the potential threat of Russia and China to reporters.

“We need Greenland for national security and even international security,” Trump said during an address to Congress in March, pointing to the influence of other global powers in the Arctic, specifically Russia and China. “And I think we’re going to get it one way or the other,” he added. Trump is trying to boost production of computer chips in the United States, which rely on minerals present in Greenland for production

Danish officials have made it clear that Trump’s interest in the region is not welcome.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
    281·
    1 day ago

    Thanks to all the countries that support Greenland and Denmark against the insanity from USA! 👍

    I’m still wondering why we (Denmark) haven’t ditched F35 yet?
    Now a NATO report says we need to expand our fighter jet fleet by 60%!!
    For fucks sake lets get rid of F35, and buy European and increase by 60% at the same price it would cost for the remaining F35.

    Anderson emphasized the potential threat of Russia and China

    But we can’t trust USA to support NATO allies even against Russia anymore! And we also can’t trust weapons from USA, as USA has announced themselves as a potential aggressor against previous allies. This is not just American rhetoric, but clearly displayed in their actions! Both regarding Greenland and Canada, and completely abandoning aid to Ukraine, which is crucial to many NATO allies!
    IDK why our government doesn’t understand that yet, but insist on keeping the F35 which IMO is nothing but expensive scrap metal!?

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      5·
      22 hours ago

      Seriously - use Rafales and Eurofighters and JAS 39.

      And last I checked, there are several European 6th-gen programs in development at the moment. It’d be a great idea to try to expedite that as much as possible.

      Also, I really do think it’s time for a unified EU defense command to be created to augment regional defense (alongside/in concert with any national military organizations, not as a replacement). Being tied to the US for meaningful defense is clearly no longer a viable proposition.