In a joint statement, leaders of eight countries said they stand in "full solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen added: "Europe will not be blackmailed."

President Donald Trump threatens steep tariffs on European nations unless Denmark sells Greenland to the U.S., citing national defense and security.

BBC Europe editor Katya Adler is in Greenland where troops and ships from several European states are gathering. The limited deployment involves Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK. US President Donald Trump says the US needs to "own" Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so.

Republican lawmakers are scrambling to contain President Donald Trump's threats of taking possession of Greenland, with some showing the most strident opposition to almost anything the Trump administration has done since taking office.

European countries are deploying military personnel to Greenland for a quick mission as the Trump administration is pushing to acquire the Danish territory.