France is calling for a NATO exercise in Greenland and is willing to participate. Sources at the Élysée presidential palace disclosed this on Wednesday.

A NATO exercise is needed, as the security of the Arctic region must be taken seriously, it said.

Denmark has asked NATO for a permanent presence on the island, its local media reported on Tuesday.

NATO increased its presence in the Baltic Sea and the Baltic States, and this could serve as a model for Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

Denmark and Greenland had previously proposed a NATO mission in the Arctic.

Earlier, international soldiers, including those from Germany and France, travelled to Greenland for a multi-day reconnaissance visit.

This was a Danish-led reconnaissance mission and not a NATO exercise.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said a week ago that she didn’t think that troop deployment would impact U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision-making process on Greenland.

Mr Trump has left no doubt that he wants to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, by any means.

In response to European NATO countries backing Denmark and Greenland’s goal to keep the status quo, Trump announced punitive tariffs on eight countries to take effect on February 1.

The countries affected and others, have already denounced the Mr Trump-proposed tariffs.

(dpa/NAN)