A German Armed Forces intelligence unit is urgently leaving Greenland, according to information obtained by journalists from the German newspaper Bild.

The outlet reports that the group consists of 15 servicemen and officers led by Rear Admiral Stefan Pauli. The unit arrived at the airport of the island’s capital, Nuuk, only two days earlier, on January 16.

The abrupt departure stands in sharp contrast to official statements made just a day before. On January 17, German authorities had publicly announced an extension of the Bundeswehr’s presence on the island. Yet the very next day, the group began withdrawing from Greenland without any public notice, briefing, or explanation.

According to Bild, the order for an immediate return to Germany was issued from Berlin early in the morning. The personnel on the ground were reportedly given no reasons for the recall, and all previously scheduled meetings and activities were canceled at short notice. The publication notes that no explanations were provided to the troops themselves, only a direct instruction to return.

The reasons behind the sudden decision remain unclear. Observers do not rule out a possible link to tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, although other factors may also have played a role.

On January 17, the White House chief declared that 10 percent tariffs would be imposed starting February 1, 2026, on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland. Beginning June 1, the duties are set to rise to 25 percent and will remain in force until an agreement is reached on transferring Greenland under American control.

The Bundeswehr group had arrived in Greenland on Friday, January 16. It included representatives of Germany’s ground forces, air force, and navy. The mission was conducted within a NATO initiative at Denmark’s invitation and was intended to involve participation in exercises as well as an assessment of potential options for future troop deployment. The deployment followed shortly after an unsuccessful meeting between delegations from Denmark, Greenland, and the United States in Washington.

Earlier media reports indicated that the Greenland mission was expected to include military personnel from Germany, France, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The first contingents from European NATO members began arriving on the island on January 15 as part of the «Arctic Resilience» mission.