The German Federal Armed Forces are prepared for a potential deployment in the Arctic, according to the Ministry of Defence. In response to a query from the German News Agency, a spokesperson said, “It is generally the case that we, as the German Federal Armed Forces, possess the necessary capabilities, which can also be used in the Arctic region.” The spokesperson also emphasized the close cooperation with partners, stating, “We are always in close exchange with our partners and we exercise together.”
The Ministry of Defence was asked about a potential deployment of the Federal Armed Forces in the context of a stronger NATO presence in Greenland. The Ministry and the Government Spokesman, Hebestreit, dismissed the reports as “speculation”. According to media reports, NATO is planning a significant expansion of its military presence in the Arctic. This could potentially satisfy the security interests of the US through diplomatic means, it was said. The new US President, Donald Trump, had recently loudly claimed ownership of Greenland and even proposed buying the island from Denmark, allegedly because the security of the US would otherwise be threatened and this might be due to the activities of Russia and China in the Arctic.
Denmark and the other EU member states had rejected such proposals with indignation. “The EU state and government heads have, once again, very clearly stated their position on the status of Greenland yesterday” said Hebestreit on Wednesday. “They have also very clearly stated that all 27 EU states are very solidary with each other and attribute great importance to the territorial integrity of each individual state.