Danish authorities reportedly took extraordinary precautionary measures in January after then-President Donald Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a largely autonomous territory within the Danish realm. Copenhagen allegedly dispatched blood supplies to Greenland and transported explosives intended to destroy airstrips in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq to prevent potential US landings, reports Baltimore Chronicle via Guardian.
During the tense period, Danish military forces were flown to Greenland carrying not only explosives but also emergency medical supplies from Danish blood banks, according to sources cited by DR, who spoke from multiple agencies across Denmark, France, and Germany. The preparations were reportedly aimed at countering any possible US military intervention following Trump’s repeated statements about Greenland being “very badly” needed by the United States.
Copenhagen is said to have pursued secret diplomatic discussions with European leaders immediately after the 2024 US presidential election, seeking political backing amid fears of a unilateral US move. The January 3, 2026, US military action in Venezuela marked a turning point for Danish policymakers, intensifying concerns about Greenland. The day after the Venezuela operation, Trump renewed his statements on Greenland, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to warn that a US attack on a NATO ally could dismantle the military alliance and post-World War II security frameworks.
Sources indicated that Denmark had initially planned to deploy Danish and European forces to Greenland later in the year, but these operations were expedited due to the heightened risk. An advance contingent of Danish, French, German, Norwegian, and Swedish soldiers arrived on Greenland, followed by a main force including elite units. Danish fighter jets and a French naval vessel were deployed to the North Atlantic to reinforce the region.
Officials reportedly aimed to maximize the presence of multiple European nationalities to create a deterrent effect against a potential US occupation. “We have not been in such a situation since April 1940,” a Danish defence source told DR. An unnamed senior French official added that the crisis had strengthened European security cooperation: “With the Greenland crisis, Europe realised once and for all that we need to be able to take care of our own security.”
Both the Danish Ministry of Defence and the offices of Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declined to comment on the reports.
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