Kathrine Frich
A military visit to Greenland ended sooner than expected this weekend.
A small German contingent departed suddenly, with no prior notice.
Only after the soldiers had left did Berlin offer a public explanation.
That account has done little to quiet speculation about what really prompted the move.
Sudden departure
A 15-member German reconnaissance unit left Greenland on Sunday after a brief stay in the Arctic territory.
Their exit came without advance warning or public explanation at the time.
According to reporting by Nv.ua, citing the German tabloid Bild, the soldiers were ordered to return home from Berlin early on January 18.
All scheduled activities were immediately called off.
The flight out was set for midday, meaning the unit spent roughly 44 hours in Greenland before leaving.
Weather cited
Germany’s Defense Ministry later said poor weather conditions forced the early departure.
Officials said the mission had been planned for January 15 to 17, with a possible extension to January 18.
That extension was canceled because of unfavorable weather, the ministry said.
A Bundeswehr lieutenant colonel added that the activities in Nuuk were carried out in close cooperation with Danish forces.
Earlier reports had suggested the Germans would remain longer, making the abrupt end to the visit more noticeable.
Political timing
The explanation has been met with doubt because of its timing.
The departure coincided with new tensions surrounding Greenland’s political status.
On January 17, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on countries opposing his proposals related to Greenland and backing Danish sovereignty, including Germany and several other European states.
Trump said that “the United States has subsidized Denmark and other European countries for years without imposing tariffs on them, and now Denmark should pay back by handing over control of Greenland to the United States.”
European Council President António Costa said EU institutions are coordinating a joint response to Trump’s remarks.
An extraordinary meeting of EU leaders is expected in the near future.
Sources: Nv.ua, Bild, LA.lv
