EU Defense Committee Chair Urges NATO Presence in Greenland with German Involvement
As the security community has long observed, the threat landscape has become increasingly acute, with the melting of the natural barrier of ice in the Arctic due to climate change, allowing Russian and Chinese ships to potentially enter the North Atlantic. In this context, a NATO presence in Greenland is essential, according to Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the chair of the EU Defense Committee.
Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the Free Democratic Party, emphasized that if the German military possesses the necessary expertise, it should participate in the effort, as it is also in Germany’s interest to secure this passage. However, other European partners would also need to be involved, she added, to signal to the US that it is not the only country with a stake in the region, but rather that it is a matter of shared responsibility.
Other party representatives have also expressed support for a German military presence in Greenland. Green Party defense policy expert Philip Krämer believes the German military could make a significant contribution, particularly in monitoring Russian nuclear-powered submarines, given the strategic location of Greenland. “Germany’s Marine Air Force is renowned for its expertise and our allies, the US and the UK, could also benefit from their capabilities” he said.
The idea of a permanent NATO presence in Greenland was discussed by EU state and government leaders at a defense summit in Brussels on Monday, in the context of US President Donald Trump’s claims to the island. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but enjoys a high degree of autonomy, with the exception of its foreign and security policy, which is largely handled by Denmark. Greenland is a NATO member through Denmark, but not an EU member.
The US has maintained military bases in Greenland for decades, including the Pituffik Space Base with missile warning systems in the north of the island, previously known as Thule Air Base. The Union’s defense and foreign policy spokesperson, Johann Wadephul, recommends integrating these structures into NATO frameworks. “Greenland alone may not be able to cope with the combined challenge from Russia and China. Therefore, one could consider incorporating the existing US structures into NATO and strengthening them with troops from other member states” he said.