MADRID, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Robles on Thursday refused to rule out deploying troops to Greenland as part of a European surveillance mission, amid tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in the territory.
Robles told reporters that "strengthening surveillance in Greenland would indeed be an option." She also urged caution, adding that "We'll see how things develop, I don't think we should rush into anything."
The defense minister said that any decision would be within the framework of a joint European effort, with any eventual participation taking place within the framework of international cooperation and respect for international law.
Talks in Washington between the United States, Denmark and Greenland regarding the island's future ended without a solution on Wednesday.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated that the three parties have agreed to establish a "high-level working group" to seek possible compromises, as a "fundamental disagreement" over Greenland's future persists.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control 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 recently ramped up his threat.
