German unit in Danish-led mission arrives in Greenland

A German reconnaissance unit landed in Greenland on Friday as part of a Danish-led mission aiming to examine NATO's ability to defend the Arctic region amid heavy US pressure for control of the territory, reported dpa.

The plane carrying the 15 German officers alongside other European troops touched down in Nuuk on Friday evening, according to a dpa reporter.

A Defence Ministry spokesman in Berlin said the aim of the operation is to analyse how NATO partners can keep the Arctic safe and assess Germany's potential contribution.

The German troops include experts in logistics and other areas, the spokesman said.

They travelled to Denmark on Thursday for initial talks before continuing on to Greenland to take part in the mission alongside colleagues from Norway, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands.

Greenland, a largely autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has attracted the attention of US President Donald Trump, who is determined to assume control of the resource-rich island for security reasons despite opposition from Copenhagen and Washington's European allies.

Following high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said Denmark and the US have a fundamental difference of opinion about the future of Greenland.

Trump has insisted that only the United States can guarantee the territory's security amid threats from Russia and China.

The Defence Ministry spokesman said the German Navy could assist the defence of Greenland with its new P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

"The use of frigates or other naval units for maritime surveillance is also conceivable," the spokesman said. "Theoretically, the deployment of Eurofighters is also possible."