Prime Minister Mark Carney is contemplating the deployment of troops to Greenland for joint military exercises with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. This decision comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to impose tariffs on European nations unless they agree to his proposal to acquire and govern the semi-autonomous island.
According to two high-ranking Canadian officials who spoke to CBC News, a series of contingency plans were developed last week and presented to the federal government. Currently, a Royal Canadian Air Force group is participating in a pre-scheduled NORAD exercise in Greenland. Still, there is deliberation on whether additional forces should be dispatched for sovereignty exercises planned by the Danes, including drills to safeguard the essential infrastructure of the Arctic island.
Given the diplomatic complexities of Canada’s involvement and the potential repercussions from the Trump administration, the government’s stance remains uncertain, as per the sources who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.
One of the options being considered is the potential dispatch of a small group of Canadian soldiers to Greenland if the need arises by the end of the week, as disclosed by the sources. The Globe and Mail first reported the news of this potential deployment.
Although all nations involved are NATO members, it is noted by the sources that participating in the Danish exercise would be outside of the alliance’s formal framework, akin to the voluntary efforts extended to support Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to acquire control of Greenland, asserting that both China and Russia are also interested in the island. He further threatened to impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries that oppose his proposal, with the tariff potentially escalating to 25% by June 1 if an agreement on Greenland’s purchase is not reached.
The countries named by Trump have expressed their support for Denmark, cautioning that a U.S. military takeover of a NATO territory could jeopardize the unity of the military alliance led by Washington.
In response to these developments, the mentioned European countries released a joint statement affirming their solidarity with Greenland’s people and expressing readiness to engage in dialogue based on principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. They criticized the tariff threats for undermining transatlantic relations and potentially triggering a negative spiral of events.
Denmark announced plans earlier in the week to bolster its troop, naval, and air presence in Greenland in collaboration with NATO allies.
During a press conference in Doha, Qatar, Prime Minister Carney voiced Canada’s concerns regarding Trump’s tariff threats, emphasizing support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries irrespective of their geographical location. Carney stressed that decisions concerning Greenland’s future should be made by Greenland and Denmark.
General Jennie Carignan, the chief of the defence staff, acknowledged that Trump’s interest in Greenland has sparked discussions within NATO. When queried about Canada’s potential contribution of ground forces, Carignan highlighted the close collaboration between Canada and Denmark, underscoring the shared interest in Arctic security from a NATO perspective.
