Prime Minister Mark Carney is contemplating the deployment of troops to Greenland for military exercises alongside North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs on European countries unless they agree to his proposal of purchasing and controlling the semi-autonomous island. According to two senior Canadian officials who spoke to CBC News, contingency plans were formulated and presented to the federal government last week.
While a Royal Canadian Air Force contingent is currently engaged in a pre-planned NORAD exercise in Greenland, the prime minister is deliberating on whether to dispatch additional forces as part of sovereignty exercises planned by the Danes, which may involve conducting drills to safeguard the critical infrastructure of the Arctic island. The sources indicated uncertainty regarding the government’s stance due to the political implications for Canada and the potential repercussions from the Trump administration.
Reports suggest that among the options being considered, a small group of Canadian soldiers could be flown to Greenland by the week’s end if required. The potential deployment, initially disclosed by the Globe and Mail, underscores that while all parties involved are NATO members, participating in the Danish exercise would fall outside the alliance’s established framework, akin to the collaborative efforts to assist Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Trump reiterated his insistence on the U.S. acquiring and overseeing Greenland, alleging interest from China and Russia in the island. He also took to social media to threaten an escalating tariff of 10% on eight European nations opposing the idea, with the rate potentially rising to 25% by June 1 if an agreement on Greenland’s purchase is not reached.
In response, the named European countries, reaffirming their support for Denmark, emphasized the potential destabilization of the NATO alliance if the U.S. were to militarily seize a territory belonging to the organization. The countries jointly expressed readiness to engage in dialogue based on principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, denouncing tariff threats as damaging to transatlantic relations.
Denmark had previously announced plans to bolster its military presence in Greenland alongside NATO allies. Prime Minister Carney expressed concern over Trump’s tariff threats during a press conference in Doha, Qatar, asserting Canada’s support for the sovereignty of nations in determining the future of Greenland. Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, highlighted the discussions within NATO sparked by Trump’s interest in Greenland control, affirming Canada’s collaboration with Danish partners on Arctic security initiatives within NATO’s purview.