HELSINKI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government decided on Thursday to join its Nordic neighbours Sweden and Norway in sending military personnel to Greenland at Denmark's request.
Finland's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the Government of Greenland and the Danish Ministry of Defense have decided to continue a Danish Armed Forces exercise in Greenland in close cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.
At Denmark's request, Finland will deploy two liaison officers to Greenland to familiarize themselves with local conditions and assess options for possible future maneuvers.
The statement said strengthening security in the Arctic region requires increased efforts from the alliance.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said Finland has contributed to Arctic security since joining NATO. "Finland's security will also be strengthened as our allies develop their capabilities in the Arctic region," he said.
Finland has previously taken part in NATO activities in Iceland and the North Sea. While Greenland is a new operating environment for Finland, Hakkanen said the country is familiar with demanding conditions.
The ministry said Sweden, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, among others, are participating in similar operations in Greenland.
Denmark's request to Finland was made public on Wednesday by Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who said at the time that Finland was still considering its response.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Danish Ministry of Defense confirmed that Denmark is increasing its military presence in Greenland, including additional capabilities such as ships, aircraft and soldiers.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, while Copenhagen retains authority over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.
Since returning to office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force. ■
