In a significant geopolitical development, the Canadian government is reportedly evaluating the deployment of additional military personnel to Greenland. This consideration comes amidst renewed pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the vast Arctic island for American interests.
Escalating Tensions and Military Considerations
According to reports from Bloomberg News, confirmed by earlier coverage from CBC News and the Globe and Mail, Prime Minister Mark Carney is actively pondering whether to bolster Canada's military presence in Greenland. A source familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that while no final decision has been made, the option is on the table.
This deliberation occurs even as a Royal Canadian Air Force contingent is already participating in a pre-planned NORAD exercise on the island. The potential new deployment would involve joining sovereignty exercises planned by Denmark, Greenland's governing authority. These drills could include operations focused on protecting Greenland's critical infrastructure.
Trump's Tariff Threats and European Backlash
The situation has been dramatically escalated by economic measures from Donald Trump. On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight European nations, threatening to increase it to 25% in June. The targeted countries—Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Britain, and Norway—are all participating in NATO military exercises in Greenland.
This move has prompted European Union leaders to schedule an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. They are expected to discuss potential retaliatory measures, which may include a package of counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros (approximately $150 billion CAD) worth of U.S. imports. These could automatically take effect on February 6 after a six-month suspension period. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already condemned Trump's tariff measure as "wrong."
Canada's Stance and Diplomatic Next Steps
Prime Minister Carney, speaking from Doha, Qatar, after a visit to China, emphasized Canada's position. "Greenland’s future is for Denmark and Greenland to decide," Carney stated during a press conference at the Islamic Art Museum. He affirmed he would reiterate this message directly to Trump if they discuss the matter.
Carney described the unfolding scenario as a "serious situation" and expressed clear concern about the escalation. He firmly placed Greenland's security within the purview of NATO, stating, "We always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, wherever their geographic location is."
The prime minister's next destination is the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While both Carney and Trump are scheduled to attend the forum, with Trump set to speak on Wednesday, it remains unknown if the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting.
In a related and controversial development over the weekend, Trump linked his ambitions for Greenland to the Nobel Peace Prize. In a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, obtained by Bloomberg, Trump wrote, "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace... I can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."
The National Post has reached out to the Prime Minister's Office for further comment as this developing story continues to impact North American and European relations.
