Which is enough for the purpose. Denmark invited to come together and talk about ways to support Greenland. So they are not there to defend (yet), but to survey and get an idea of the conditions.
This, and it’s also a form of deterrence in itself. It means that if the US attacks Greenland, they’ll potentially have to kill not just Danish, but also German, French etc soldiers, permanently fucking up relations with those countries beyond repair.
I can already hear Merz:
Yes 12 german soldiers died in this very complex situation. But, now is not the time to overreact. The americans are very reliable partners and we should not endanger this relationship just because a view soldiers were killed by accident.
As zitronenschnitte@feddit.org said, they are there as a scouting group in preparation for a larger contingent.
Anyway, they already are a deterrent, because of their presence, any attack on Greenland risks being an attack on every single country that has sent soldiers for its defence, no matter how few.
Their presence is also a very robust assurance of support, because having one’s troops attacked is way harder to ignore or brush aside than a verbal assurance or some piece of paper.
I know it’s a good first step. I just wanted to highlight, that the headline, although technically the truth, is a bit sensationalist. Also I don’t think Trump will be impressed by that. But I can see how sending a small team is also a strong indirect message to Trump.
Thirteen is just the German contingent, but the other countries are sending similarly small numbers for now. However, this small group is a recon mission, not intended as a fighting force. They’re going there to make a plan for their armies, not to be the army
Yeah sending some troops from multiple european countries is a strong message indeed. I just think Trump won’t be impressed by that and opt for force anyways.
That’s funny, I get it. As Europeans, we can make that joke.
Just like, as a Dutch person, I can make jokes about casting Friesland into the Northsea. But if some fuck like Trump starts talking shit about Friesland, than they’ll have to endure my strongly worded comments on alternative social media.
Great headline but apparently it’s the great total of 13 soldiers.
Which is enough for the purpose. Denmark invited to come together and talk about ways to support Greenland. So they are not there to defend (yet), but to survey and get an idea of the conditions.
This, and it’s also a form of deterrence in itself. It means that if the US attacks Greenland, they’ll potentially have to kill not just Danish, but also German, French etc soldiers, permanently fucking up relations with those countries beyond repair.
I can already hear Merz: Yes 12 german soldiers died in this very complex situation. But, now is not the time to overreact. The americans are very reliable partners and we should not endanger this relationship just because a view soldiers were killed by accident.
P.s. lets tortur some asylum seekers and send the police to brutalize some “left wing extremists” (climate protesters).
I wouldn’t say permanently, I mean France and Germany have overcome a lot in the last century.
But for the next several decades absolutely. Maybe I’m being a bit pedantic
As zitronenschnitte@feddit.org said, they are there as a scouting group in preparation for a larger contingent.
Anyway, they already are a deterrent, because of their presence, any attack on Greenland risks being an attack on every single country that has sent soldiers for its defence, no matter how few.
Their presence is also a very robust assurance of support, because having one’s troops attacked is way harder to ignore or brush aside than a verbal assurance or some piece of paper.
I know it’s a good first step. I just wanted to highlight, that the headline, although technically the truth, is a bit sensationalist. Also I don’t think Trump will be impressed by that. But I can see how sending a small team is also a strong indirect message to Trump.
Thirteen is just the German contingent, but the other countries are sending similarly small numbers for now. However, this small group is a recon mission, not intended as a fighting force. They’re going there to make a plan for their armies, not to be the army
Yeah sending some troops from multiple european countries is a strong message indeed. I just think Trump won’t be impressed by that and opt for force anyways.
If I understood the news correctly those 13 are send to make preparations for a larger unit.
/edit: Apparently, the wording is: ,The aim is to explore framework conditions for securing the region."
…wishy-washy, but better than nothing, I suppose.
That practically doubled the population
That’s funny, I get it. As Europeans, we can make that joke.
Just like, as a Dutch person, I can make jokes about casting Friesland into the Northsea. But if some fuck like Trump starts talking shit about Friesland, than they’ll have to endure my strongly worded comments on alternative social media.
Same goes for Greenland
Then*