BERLIN, Jan 15 - Germany will send 13 soldiers to Greenland today as part of a reconnaissance mission with other European nations, the German government and defence ministry said yesterday, following demands by United States President Donald Trump for Washington to have control of the island.
The mission, which comes at the request of Denmark, will take place from today to Saturday, aiming to explore possible military contributions to bolster the security of the region, a defence ministry statement said.
This could, for example, include maritime surveillance, it added.
Trump has repeatedly said in recent weeks that Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark that is strategically located and rich in minerals, is vital to US security, and that the US must own it to prevent Russia or China from occupying it.
He has said all options are on the table for securing the territory, rhetoric that has severely strained relations between Europe and the US.
Yesterday, Sweden and Norway announced that they would send military personnel to the island.