German soldiers near a Boxer military vehicle, a new type of armored personnel carrier, at a barracks in Berlin. PHOTO: Henry Nicholls, PA Images / Alamy / Profimedia
Germany will send 13 soldiers to Greenland on Thursday, as part of a reconnaissance mission carried out together with other European nations, the government and the Ministry of Defense in Berlin announced on Wednesday, in the context of pressure from President Donald Trump for Washington to take control of the Arctic island under the control of Denmark, informs Reuters.
The mission, which comes at the request of Denmark, will take place from Thursday to Saturday, with the aim of exploring possible military contributions to strengthen the security of the region, the German Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The mission could include, for example, maritime surveillance, the ministry added.
Trump has repeatedly said in recent weeks that Greenland, a strategically located and mineral-rich autonomous territory of Denmark, is vital to US security and that the United States must hold the island to prevent Russia or China from occupying it.
Donald Trump's unequivocal message ahead of key meeting on Greenland's future: 'Anything else is unacceptable' and NATO 'knows' it
The American leader said that all options are being considered to ensure the security of the territory, his rhetoric seriously straining relations between Europe and the US.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sweden and Norway announced they would also send military personnel to the island.
