France Proposes NATO Military 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.