Soldiers from several European countries, including Germany and France, began arriving in Greenland on Thursday for what they said is a reconnaissance mission.  

The troop movements come amid a rift between the US and its European partners over the future of the strategically located Arctic island.

Greenland, which has a population just under 57,000, is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains responsibility for the island's defense and foreign policy.

Signaling European unity

But US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to acquire Greenland, by again saying that it's critical to US national security amid rising Russian and Chinese interest in the region.

The latest mission is intended to signal European unity and send a message to the US.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was "to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution," according to Danish broadcaster DR.

He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system.

The United States also maintains a military base on Greenland.

No impact on Trump's decision-making

But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the mission and said it would have no impact on Trump's decision-making or goal of acquiring Greenland.

"The president has made his priority quite clear, that he wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it's in our best national security to do that," she said.

The US, Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday held talks to resolve the conflict over US ownership claims, without success.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance revealed "fundamental" differences of opinion.

But they agreed to continue the dialogue.

Greenland acquisition 'out of the question'

The White House described plans for more talks as "technical talks on the acquisition agreement" for the US to acquire Greenland.

Rasmussen, though, rejected this statement, saying it would be a working group to discuss ways to work through differences between the nations.

He also ruled out any US acquisition of Greenland.

"This is out of the question. It's not what we want in Denmark, nor in Greenland and it runs counter to all international rules. It infringes on sovereignty," he told public broadcaster DR.

Edited by: Sean Sinico