Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is actively considering whether to deploy a contingent of Canadian soldiers to Greenland as part of a Danish-led NATO military exercise, according to senior government officials familiar with the matter. This potential decision places Canada squarely within a tense transatlantic standoff, as multiple European allies have already sent personnel to demonstrate collective defense of the Arctic territory amid U.S. President Donald Trump's escalating campaign to acquire the island.
The planning options, which include sending a small number of soldiers to participate in sovereignty-focused drills, were presented to the federal government last week. Officials state that a Royal Canadian Air Force unit is already in Greenland as part of a separate, pre-planned NORAD exercise, but the new deployment would specifically join the NATO activities to reinforce Arctic security and show support for Denmark. The consideration of this move is fraught with diplomatic risk. Officials acknowledge uncertainty about the government's final decision, citing the potential for a damaging backlash from the Trump administration, which has a history of conflict with Canada over trade and political issues.
The potential Canadian deployment would be part of "Operation Arctic Endurance," a hastily organized Danish-led military exercise launched in response to Trump's threats. The operation began with small reconnaissance and planning teams from several European NATO members arriving in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, starting January 15, 2026. Participating nations have included Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Iceland, and Slovenia, with most contributions numbering only a handful of personnel. France's President Emmanuel Macron stated an initial team would be reinforced soon with "land, air, and sea assets," framing the mission as a strong political signal to show the United States that NATO is present.
President Trump has responded to the European troop movements with economic threats, declaring that eight participating nations, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland will be hit with a 10% tariff on all imports starting February 1, rising to 25% by June, "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland". These countries, along with Canada, have uniformly condemned the tariff threat and reaffirmed their support for Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty. European Union leaders are planning an emergency summit to discuss retaliatory measures, including counter-tariffs. The crisis has led to stark warnings from European leaders; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that any U.S. military intervention in Greenland "would be a political disaster" and "the end of the world as we know it" in terms of European security.
The people and government of Greenland have consistently and forcefully rejected the idea of becoming part of the United States. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has stated, "Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States". This sentiment is echoed publicly, with hundreds of Greenlanders recently protesting in Nuuk, carrying signs with messages like "Yankee Go Home" and "We are not for sale". Locals have expressed confusion over Trump's security rationale, noting the U.S. already operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland and has standing permission from Denmark to increase its military presence.
As the diplomatic crisis continues to unfold, all eyes are on Ottawa. Prime Minister Carney, while expressing concern over the escalation and affirming support for sovereignty, has not publicly announced a decision. With a small Canadian contingent possibly deploying before the end of the week if approved, Canada must soon choose how visibly it will stand with its European allies in this unprecedented test of NATO unity.