Denmark reportedly took steps to plant explosives on Greenland’s airstrips and transported blood supplies in response to fears of a possible U.S. invasion earlier this year, revealed a recent report by Danish public broadcaster DR.
These actions were allegedly part of a strategic plan, which involved sending troops to Greenland in January, equipped with explosives to potentially destroy runways and thus prevent U.S. aircraft from landing, according to EuroNews.
The details of this plan were documented in a Danish military operations order dated January 13, which DR claims to have examined.
These precautions were initiated amid rising tensions following President Donald Trump’s assertion that the U.S. should control Greenland for its national security interests.
Throughout this period, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen consistently rebuffed Trump’s proposals to purchase the island.
DR’s report is based on information from 12 sources within the highest echelons of the Danish government and military, as well as from allies in France and Germany, according to the BBC.
“When Trump says all the time that he wants to buy Greenland … we had to take all possible scenarios seriously,” an unnamed Danish military official told DR.
Denmark and several European allies also deployed troops to Greenland under what was a NATO exercise called Arctic Endurance.
In reality, according to the sources cited by DR, the deployment was operational.
Soldiers arrived equipped not only with standard military gear but also with the medical supplies and the explosives, the report said. France, Germany and Sweden also took part in the January deployment.
Despite the preparations, Danish authorities sought to avoid escalation with Washington.
Trump announced a vague “framework” agreement on Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Jan. 21, though details remain unclear.
At the World Economic forum in Davos Trump said, “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland.”
On March 17, the commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Gen. Gregory Guillot, said, “We are working with Denmark through the Department of State to expand some of the authorities that are in the 1951 treaty to give increased access to different bases across Greenland.
“But everything that we’re doing through NORTHCOM is through Greenland and through Denmark.”
