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A top European military official has called for the European Union to refine its defense strategy and proposed stationing EU troops in Greenland.

Some shit you should know before you read: The European Union (EU) is a political and economic bloc of 27 member states that collaborate on a wide range of issues, including security and defense. The EU’s mutual-defense mechanism stipulates that if a member state is the victim of armed aggression, other member states are obligated to provide aid and assistance “by all the means in their power” by the United Nations Charter. However, the clause is deliberately flexible and does not mandate a specific military response, leaving the form of assistance up to individual countries. The mutual-defense clause has only been invoked once by France in 2015 following the Paris terror attacks.

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What’s going on now: While speaking at the European Defense Agency’s (EDA) annual conference in Brussels, Austrian General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU Military Committee, stressed the need to clarify and operationalize the EU’s collective defense clause, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union. He argued that the clause, which obligates member states to assist one another in the event of an attack, remains too vague to be effectively implemented, stating, “It is nice to have, but we do not have the relevant tools to implement it.” Brieger stressed the importance of defining specific EU responsibilities, such as protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring cyber-resilience, and improving military mobility.

Brieger also proposed the possibility of stationing European troops in Greenland, citing its increasing geopolitical significance because of its critical location for trade routes and resources. As Arctic ice melts, Greenland is becoming more accessible, leading to heightened international competition, particularly with Russia and China. He argued that deploying EU soldiers, alongside existing US forces, would send a strong signal of stability and help safeguard Europe’s interests in the region.

This comes as President Trump continues to advocate for the United States acquiring Greenland, stressing its natural resources as a key reason. In addition, Trump argues that Greenland’s geographic position, located along the shortest route between North America and Europe, is critical for military operations.

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