HELSINKI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday that Sweden has sent military personnel to Greenland at Denmark's request.
In a post on social media platform X, Kristersson said that "some Swedish officers" would arrive in Greenland later in the day as part of a multinational group of allied personnel. He noted that the deployment is linked to preparations for "Arctic Endurance," an operation planned by Denmark.
Kristersson described the move as the dispatch of Swedish defense personnel to support Denmark's enhanced preparedness in Greenland.
The Swedish Armed Forces confirmed that Swedish personnel are among the initial contingent arriving on the island. "The Arctic region is strategically important. With growing tensions among major powers, it is all the more important that Sweden is present and active," Jonas Beltrame-Linne, a media spokesman for the Swedish Armed Forces, told Swedish Television (SVT).
Earlier on Wednesday, the Danish Ministry of Defence 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. ■