The White House received warnings that a major military alliance could collapse.
However, European allies began deploying small troop numbers to Greenland.
Also, Greenland is the world’s largest island and part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands sent forces.
Meanwhile, the deployments followed repeated threats by Trump to take control.
Vice President JD Vance met Danish and Greenland ministers on Wednesday, January 14.
They told him annexation was “absolutely unnecessary” for the United States.
Later, Trump said there was nothing they could do to stop him.
Separately, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the European troop presence.
“Nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” she said.
Trump has repeated his intent since first raising the idea during his first term.
He has justified the plan as necessary for national security.
Still, the statements alarmed European Union allies.
Former European Council president and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the move.
“An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster.
“It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression.”
Trump later cited Venezuela while defending the plan.
“The problem is there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do. You found that out last week with Venezuela.”
Finally, Greenland confirmed NATO allies would join training drills on Thursday.
“Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships.”
Denmark also confirmed plans for a more permanent military presence.