NATO has begun transferring around 10,000 soldiers, equipment and vehicles to Germany for a major military exercise in the coming weeks under the shadow of the dispute over the status of Greenland, reported dpa. Dozens of vehicles belonging to an Italian military unit rolled off a cargo ship at the north-western German port of Emden early on Thursday. This marked the start of visible operations in Germany, according to the Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) in the Dutch town of Brunssum. Germany is hosting the manoeuvre, which has been dubbed "Steadfast Dart 26" and is the largest NATO exercise this year. Eleven member states are participating in the exercises with army, air force, navy, space and cyber units. "From today onwards, around 10,000 soldiers will arrive in Germany," said Italian General Nicola Mandolesi during the unloading of the first cargo ship in Emden. "With this exercise, NATO is showing the capability to move rapidly from south to the north, from west to the east." The exercises show the alliance is "united and capable and ready" to fullfil all kinds of mission, the general said, thanking Germany for coordinating the manoeuvre. The operations come amid a major split within the alliance over the future of the largely autonomous Arctic territory of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. US President Donald Trump is pushing for Washington to control the territory, with European countries warning that any US move to take over Greenland could mean the end of NATO.