Rome, January 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that Italy could consider increasing its military presence in Greenland within a NATO framework, in response to renewed US interest in the Danish territory.
Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of her official visit to Tokyo, Meloni emphasized that Italy’s potential presence would be coordinated under NATO and should not be interpreted as a divisive move against the United States, media reports said.
“The participation of European countries in the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance is about assuming responsibilities in an area that has been underestimated until now,” Meloni said. She called for greater commitment from all allies and urged that actions be coordinated, while noting that a military ground intervention would be very difficult.
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has attracted heightened US attention due to its strategic location, vast mineral resources, and concerns over increasing Russian and Chinese activity. Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected any proposals to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty.
Several European countries are enhancing their military presence in Greenland through exercises and reconnaissance missions. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that the territory should be under US control to counter Russian and Chinese influence.
Separately, Meloni expressed Italy’s willingness to play a leading role in implementing the Middle East peace plan following the White House’s announcement of members for the Gaza “Board of Peace” and the head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, part of Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the territory.
