A group of 15 German armed forces soldiers left Greenland on Sunday, January 18. A representative of the German Operational Command announced the departure, as quoted by the dpa news agency. The soldiers flew from the Arctic island to Copenhagen aboard a civilian aircraft.
As emphasized, the reconnaissance mission was carried out as planned and was not interrupted.
– The results of the reconnaissance are satisfactory and are currently being analyzed in Germany – said the command spokesman.
The German contingent arrived in Nuuk only on Friday evening. Just the day before, it was unclear how long their stay would last. Soldiers from several other European countries also participated in the exercise. The mission aimed to develop ways to better protect Greenland from potential threats, including those from Russia.
The United States was invited to participate in the exercises but declined.
Trump’s response: tariffs and accusations
On Saturday, the US president announced additional tariffs against eight European countries that have sent troops to Greenland. The list includes Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.
Trump called Europe’s actions a “dangerous game” and said the situation around Greenland was “no longer acceptable.” He said the tariffs were intended to “quickly and without discussion end a potentially dangerous crisis.”
Europe responds sharply
The American president’s words sparked a strong reaction in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Europe will not yield to pressure or threats.
“Neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world, will we allow ourselves to be intimidated,” Macron said.
An extraordinary meeting of EU ambassadors is scheduled for Sunday, devoted to tensions over Greenland and relations with the US.
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