The Dutch cabinet will decide this week whether “several Dutch soldiers” will be sent to Greenland as part of preparations for Nato exercises on the Arctic island, foreign minister David van Weel told BNR radio on Thursday.
The Netherlands is positive about sending troops and “you can expect white smoke before the end of the week,” he told the broadcaster. According to NOS sources, the move would involve one or two people.
Earlier this week, MPs backed sending extra military resources to Greenland as part of a Nato mission. A motion tabled by the orthodox Christian SGP called for the Netherlands, together with other European Nato members, to increase their military presence on the island in response to US concerns about Arctic security.
US president Donald Trump has stepped up calls in the past two weeks to take over Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom.
Trump has said the US needs to “have ownership” of Greenland to prevent Russia or China from dominating the region and has not ruled out using military force.
Denmark has warned that an attack on Greenland would all but end Nato and is planning to expand its military presence on the island. Germany, Sweden, France and Norway have all confirmed they are sending military personnel to Greenland this week.
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