Slovenia sends military officers to Greenland

Slovenia will join several other European countries by sending two military officers to Greenland to take part in a Denmark-led mission amid controversy over US President Donald Trump's plan to take over the island.

In a correspondence session, the government decided to deploy two Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) officers to Greenland to take part in the planning and implementation of the Danish-led international military exercise Arctic Endurance, the Defence Ministry said, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"Slovenia consistently advocates respect for international law in managing relations between states anywhere in the world. Greenland belongs to its local population, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on its affairs," Prime Minister Robert Golob was quoted as saying on the government's X profile while the correspondence session was still underway.

The Defence Ministry said it was yet to be decided when the Denmark-led exercise would take place. It added that Slovenia signed a memorandum on military cooperation with Denmark in 1998.

According to the N1 news portal, the two officers could head for Greenland in the coming days.

According to the portal, the explanation of the government's decision notes that Greenland, as part of the Arctic, is recognized in NATO's strategic concept as a strategic area where Russia is capable of hindering allied reinforcements and the free movement of allied forces.

This makes the island part of the alliance's collective defence that must be defended and where the opponent must be deterred, N1 writes.

The reasoning also states that if, in the course of the exercise planning, the need for greater engagement of the Slovenian Armed Forces' capabilities should arise, the government will decide on that separately, according to the portal.

Several European countries have in recent days decided to send a limited number troops to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission, including France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands.

The deployments come in the wake of criticism by the US that Denmark has neglected Greenland's defence and threats to take over what is a self-governing territory controlled by Denmark.

US President Trump has said that the US would take Greenland "one way or the other", or else it would be taken by Russia or China. He has also threatened to impose new tariffs on nations that do not go along with his ambitions to take over Greenland.

Photo: Xinhua/STA