NUUK, Greenland — German troops quietly packed up and left Greenland on Sunday — just two days after arriving for a highly publicized NATO military exercise requested by Denmark in response to President Trump’s threats to take control of the world’s largest island.
The abrupt departure raised eyebrows in Nuuk, where locals watched as uniformed German personnel boarded a commercial flight out of Greenland rather than a military transport.
Once on board, roughly half of the soldiers were seated in cushy business class seats.
The troops had been deployed as part of “Operation Arctic Endurance,” framed by Copenhagen as a sign of resolve after Trump openly questioned Danish sovereignty over Greenland and warned that the United States could seize the territory if necessary.
German officials denied that the operation ended early, and pledged that there would be more international military coordination in the future.
Berlin’s short stay underscored the uneasy balancing act Europe faces as two NATO allies spar over the strategically vital island, which sits across key Arctic shipping routes, on top of rich natural resources and rare earth minerals and hosts major US military infrastructure.
Denmark sought to downplay any escalation Saturday, releasing a joint statement signed along with the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
“As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest,” the statement said. “The pre-coordinated Danish exercise ‘Arctic Endurance’ conducted with Allies responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.”
The eight countries also voiced firm backing for Danish control of Greenland, which is home to about 56,000 people, most of them Inuit.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the statement continued. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.”
The statement was aimed squarely at Trump, who has intensified pressure on Denmark in recent weeks — even floating new tariff threats — as part of a broader push to assert US dominance in the Arctic.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the statement warned. “We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”
Despite the tough language, the sight of German troops departing almost as soon as they arrived — on a civilian flight — suggested Europe may be reluctant to turn symbolic gestures into a prolonged military presence in Greenland as tensions with the US simmer.
Also Saturday, several hundred Greenlanders gathered for an anti-American protest, marching toward the local US Consulate carrying signs reading, “Yankee Go Home,” “F— Trump, F— [Vice President JD] Vance, F— USA” and “We are not for sale.”
Demonstrator Ivik Daorana said he did not understand the US interest in annexing Greenland for security purposes, as Trump has alleged, since Washington already has a Space Force base on the island’s northwest coast and a standing invitation from Denmark to bolster its presence.
“I think it’s nonsense, because the Danish own Greenland and said you can open more military bases here in Greenland if you’re concerned about the national security,” Daorana said. “But we don’t want to be part of the United States.”
“It does not make sense at all, because China and Russia — they don’t want to do with Greenland and then Trump, he keeps talking about Russia and China,” he added.
European Council President Antonio Costa called Sunday for an “extraordinary meeting” in the “coming days” regarding the Greenland situation.
In a post to X, the former Portguguese prime minister said member states had agreed to stand for unity behind Denmark and Greenland; respect for territorial sovereignty; opposition to tariffs that could “undermine” EU-US ties, and a readiness to defend against “coercion” while continuing to engage “constructively” with the United States “on all issues of common interest.”
