Wednesday, 21 January, 2026
London, UK
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 4:24 PM
broken clouds 8.9°C
Condition: Broken clouds
Humidity: 90%
Wind Speed: 24.1 km/h

France calls for NATO exercise in Greenland

France has called for NATO to hold a military exercise in Greenland and says it is “ready to contribute,” according to a statement from French President Emmanuel Macron’s office on Wednesday.

The request comes as the transatlantic alliance is deeply upset over U.S. threats to take over the island and after U.S. President Donald Trump snubbed an invitation from the French president to join G7 leaders in Paris to iron out differences.

When asked about the French request Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Macron should keep his focus at home “when the French budget is in shambles.”

Trump is set to land in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday where he is expected to push again for an American takeover of the self-ruling Danish territory. Macron was in Davos on Tuesday, but did not stay for Trump’s visit, instead delivering a speech where he said he preferred “respect to bullies” and called on the European Union to “not hesitate” in using the Anti-Coercion Instrument against Washington to defend its interests.

France has already sent a small military contingent to Greenland and has plans to send sea, air and land forces, though the details remain unclear.

Troops from several European countries have already deployed to Greenland under Denmark’s Operation Arctic Endurance exercise. Copenhagen on Monday boosted its military presence on the Arctic island, according to local press reports.

Trump’s designs on Greenland, and more recent tariffs threats against Europeans who oppose them, have exposed how the alliance is ill-equipped for dealing with one member — in this case, its most powerful one — threatening another member.

On Monday, NATO chief Mark Rutte  told reporters that the alliance is “not at all” in crisis, brushing off the standoff with Trump.

“I think we are really working in the right direction,” Rutte said.

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

Categories

Follow

    Newsletter

    Subscribe to receive your complimentary login credentials and unlock full access to all features and stories from Lord’s Press.

    As a journal of record, Lord’s Press remains freely accessible—thanks to the enduring support of our distinguished partners and patrons. Subscribing ensures uninterrupted access to our archives, special reports, and exclusive notices.

    LP is free thanks to our Sponsors

    Privacy Overview

    Privacy & Cookie Notice

    This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to help us understand how our content is accessed and used. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser that allow us to recognise your device upon return, retain your preferences, and gather anonymised usage statistics to improve site performance.

    Under EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process this data based on your consent. You will be prompted to accept or customise your cookie preferences when you first visit our site.

    You may adjust or withdraw your consent at any time via the cookie settings link in the website footer. For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our full Privacy Policy