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Morning opening: Operation Convince Trump
Jakub Krupa
France is the latest country to confirm a military deployment to Greenland as Denmark and allies are desperate to show US president Donald Trump that they take the Arctic security seriously and are capable of defending it if needed.
Greenlandic deputy prime minister, Múte B. Egede, said that more soldiers were expected in the coming days, joined by “more military flights and ships” as part of hastily convened “Operation Convince Trump” “Operation Arctic Endurance.”
But Trump’s first public reaction, just hours after a high-stake meeting between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and senior US officials, suggested he was far to be convinced.
Talking to reported in the Oval Office, he repeated that Greenland was “very important” for the US national security, and “the problem is that there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there is everything we can do.”
I will bring you all the latest from Greenland and its European allies as they are expected to confirm more deployments to the semi-autonomous territory.
I will also look at the latest from Ukraine, and across the continent.
It’s Thursday, 15 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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Irregular border crossing at EU's external borders down by quarter, new data show
Lisa O’Carroll
Irregular border crossings at the EU’s external borders fell by over one-quarter (26%) in 2025 to almost 178 000, less than half the total recorded in 2023 and the lowest level since 2021.
While key routes were down – Northern Africa to Italy by 66% and western African to the Canary Islands by 63% – there was no commensurate drop on the English Channel to the UK.
There were 65,861 successful or attempted crossings of small boats from France to the UK, a fall of 3% year on year.
This underlines the continued success of smuggling gangs in Europe despite falls in irregular migration.
“The trend is moving in the right direction, but risks do not disappear,” said Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens.
“This drop shows that cooperation can deliver results. It is not an invitation to relax. Our responsibility is to stay alert, support Member States on the ground, and ensure Europe is ready for new challenges at its borders.”
While the decrease is “significant” according to Frontex, “the situation at Europe’s borders remains uncertain”.
It added:
“Migration pressure can shift quickly between routes, shaped by conflict, instability and smuggling networks.
“The European Union is also already coping with attempts by hostile actors to exploit migration flows to put pressure on the EU’s external borders.”
Danish, allied troops will rotate in Greenland to conduct joint exercises
Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen told broadcaster DR that the intention behind Operation Arctic Endurance was to “establish a more permanent military presence” in Greenland, drawing on Danish military and foreign allies, and to conduct joint exercises.
He said there would be “a rotation” of allied countries coming in and out of the territory.
Asked if the exercises were meant to be a signal to the Americans, he declined to comment, DR noted.
Russia is 'seriously concerned' about Nato personnel deployment to Greenland
Meanwhile, Russia has said it was “seriously concerned” by the arrival of Nato military personnel in Greenland, after US president Donald Trump’s comments about the territory.
“The situation unfolding in the high latitudes is of serious concern to us,” the Russian embassy in Belgium, where Nato is headquartered, said in a statement published late Wednesday.
Nato is “building up its military presence there under the false pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing,” the embassy added.
France's Macron calls emergency defence cabinet on Greenland, Iran
Angelique Chrisafis
in Paris
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, called an emergency defence cabinet meeting at the Élysée at 8am this morning to discuss Donald Trump’s stance on Greenland as well as the situation in Iran.
In an overnight message on social media, Macron said a first group of French military personnel were already headed to Greenland to participate in an exercise organised by Denmark and Greenland.
“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organised by Denmark in Greenland,” Macron wrote. “The first French military elements are already en route. Others will follow.”
On Thursday afternoon, Macron will deliver his traditional new year’s address to French armed forces, where he could speak further about joint military exercises in Greenland.
Morning opening: Operation Convince Trump
Jakub Krupa
France is the latest country to confirm a military deployment to Greenland as Denmark and allies are desperate to show US president Donald Trump that they take the Arctic security seriously and are capable of defending it if needed.
Greenlandic deputy prime minister, Múte B. Egede, said that more soldiers were expected in the coming days, joined by “more military flights and ships” as part of hastily convened “Operation Convince Trump” “Operation Arctic Endurance.”
But Trump’s first public reaction, just hours after a high-stake meeting between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and senior US officials, suggested he was far to be convinced.
Talking to reported in the Oval Office, he repeated that Greenland was “very important” for the US national security, and “the problem is that there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there is everything we can do.”
I will bring you all the latest from Greenland and its European allies as they are expected to confirm more deployments to the semi-autonomous territory.
I will also look at the latest from Ukraine, and across the continent.
It’s Thursday, 15 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
