The Danish Arctic Command has reported that military aircraft carrying supplies have landed at airports in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and Kangerlussuaq.

The plane is carrying soldiers from Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Germany has also said it will send 13 of its soldiers here. Britain and France are also sending troops. Soldiers from all these countries will hold a joint parade here.

The military exercise is being held here at the request of Denmark after talks between the US, Denmark and Greenland ended without a conclusion on Wednesday evening. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that the talks could not move forward because Trump did not want to back down from his policy of annexing Greenland to the US. The presence of soldiers from various European countries, although small in number, is considered meaningful, because they have gathered to show solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members are divided on the Greenland issue. Although the US, which spends the most in NATO, has made a policy of annexing Greenland to its country, other countries have opposed it. 

Greenland, with a population of just 56,000, is surrounded by 80 percent of the Arctic Ocean and about 20 percent of the North Atlantic Ocean. Spread over 2.166 million square kilometers, it is the world's largest island. If it were not a self-governing island but an independent country, it would be the 12th largest country in the world.

It has been ruled by Denmark since 1721. In 1979, Greenland gained the right to self-government through a referendum, remaining part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

The Greenland Home Rule Act of 2009 granted Greenland the right to self-determination. The majority of Greenland's budget comes from Denmark. Denmark's 2026 budget has allocated $253 million for the development of Greenland's physical infrastructure. The Greenland government manages most domestic affairs, including education, health and natural resources, and local development. The Danish government handles specific policies, including foreign and defense affairs. But in foreign policy too,  Greenland has been enjoying maximum autonomy in recent years. For example, in 2024, the title of the foreign policy issued by Greenland was, ‘Greenland in the World – Nothing About Us Without Us.’

Surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, Greenland has great strategic importance. The Arctic Council has eight member states – Russia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States. All other countries except Russia are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

For a long time after the end of the Cold War, international powers were coordinating studies and research in this region. However, in recent years, competition for resources has been increasing between the powers. 

In particular, the rivalry between Russia and NATO has made it a strategic center. The United States had an influential presence here during World War II and the Cold War. The US has built strategic infrastructure here, including the Pitufik Space Base, Thule Air Base, a missile early warning system, and a station for space surveillance.

The anti-submarine warfare chokepoint built in the North Atlantic during the Cold War still monitors the Russian navy in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans today. Most of the infrastructure built during the Cold War is now unused. However, more than 150 US soldiers still live in Greenland.

A 2007 US Geological Survey report indicated that there may be significant oil and gas reserves off the coast of Greenland. After this, the number of people coming here for study and research began to increase. However, the Greenland government stopped issuing new

licenses for oil and gas exploration in 2021 . The decision was also aimed at discouraging environmental impact and geopolitical competition.  80 to 85 percent of Greenland is covered in ice. Its commercial exploitation can help meet the growing global demand for fresh water. Fisheries are an important part of the economy here. With climate change, marine fish are in crisis. And, Greenland's importance has increased further.

Greenland is rich in rare minerals. It is estimated that graphite, copper, nickel zinc, and other rare elements used in electronic and mechanical materials are found here in large quantities. That is why the world's power centers have set their eyes here.

Global warming has further increased Greenland's strategic importance. As the ice of the Arctic Ocean melts, Greenland will develop as a maritime hub connecting Asia, Europe, and North America

. Keeping this potential in mind, China recently added the 'Polar Silk Road' concept to its BRE project. Which means trade through the Arctic Sea. As land and sea ice melt, Greenland's mineral and hydrocarbon reserves are becoming more accessible and attractive to many countries.

Russia, the US and China are the main players in the Arctic region

This is not the first time the US has taken the initiative to annex Greenland. In 1867, US Secretary of State William H. Seward planned to buy Alaska along with Greenland and Iceland.

The US bought Alaska from Russia as planned, but faced strong opposition to this, so the process of buying Greenland and Iceland did not proceed. In 1946, President Harry Truman formally proposed to Denmark to buy Greenland.

His proposal was to give Denmark $100 million worth of gold. However, Denmark rejected it. In 2019, Trump made his desire to buy Greenland

public. Denmark did not discuss the matter, saying that it was not in the BRIC.

Russia is the largest player in the Arctic region in terms of population and geography. About 53 percent of the coastal area of ​​the Arctic Ocean is Russian territory. The world's largest country, Russia, has 35 percent of its total land area in the Arctic. According to a 2010 report, 2 million of the 4 million people living in the Arctic live in Russia. The Arctic has been an important part of Russian foreign policy. Russia has a large military presence around Greenland. Russia is active in various fields, including mining and infrastructure construction.  China has also been increasing its presence. It has been conducting various research here with permission from Greenland in recent years. Similarly, it has been conducting joint studies and research in Russian territory. This is considered part of the Russia-China larger strategy.

China claims itself as a state close to the Arctic. It has been working with Greenland since 2010 to mine minerals, build infrastructure, conduct scientific and cultural cooperation, and develop tourism.

In 2018, a Chinese state-owned construction company won a contract to build three airports in Greenland, which shocked American policymakers. 

To keep China out of the project, the US asked the Danish government to build its own infrastructure. Denmark did the same.  China has since faced setbacks in other areas. For example, its failed attempt to acquire a long-unused Danish naval base.

Some of its mining projects have been put on hold for the time being. Some have failed. Despite this, China has not abandoned its presence in the Arctic.

Greenland's main market for fish is China. Greenland's foreign policy includes deepening trade and export relations with East Asia, specifically China, Japan, South Korea and India.