Denmark reportedly readied itself for potential attack from the US in January – flying bags of blood to Greenland and explosives to blow up runways in case of a battle with its former closest ally.
During the tense days when Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland – a largely autonomous territory that is part of the Danish commonwealth – “the hard way”, Copenhagen was so shaken that it started preparing for US invasion, according to Danish public broadcaster DR.
When, in January, Danish soldiers were flown to Greenland, they were reportedly carrying explosives to destroy runways in the capital, Nuuk, and in Kangerlussuaq, a small town north of the capital, to prevent US aircraft from landing in the event of an invasion.
They also carried supplies from Danish blood banks to treat wounded people in the event of battle, according to DR, which had spoken to sources from across the Danish government, authorities and intelligence services in Denmark, France and Germany.
Denmark reportedly started seeking political support from European leaders in a series of secret talks that started soon after the 2024 US election.
The 3 January US attack on Venezuela was a crucial turning point, many of the sources told DR. The following day, Trump said the US needed Greenland “very badly” – renewing fears of a US invasion. The following day, Frederiksen said that an attack by the US on a Nato ally would mean the end of both the military alliance and “post-second world war security”.
According to DR, there was already reportedly a plan for Danish and European forces to send soldiers to Greenland later in they year, but this was rapidly brought forward.
An unnamed top French official told DR that the unprecedented situation had brought Europe closer together. “With the Greenland crisis, Europe realised once and for all that we need to be able to take care of our own security,” the source said.
Although Copenhagen wanted to avoid escalation with the US, it did not want to do nothing in the event of a US attack.
An advance command of Danish, French, German, Norwegian and Swedish soldiers touched down in Greenland, followed by a main force including elite soldiers. Danish fighter planes and a French naval vessel were also sent in the direction of the North Atlantic.
The aim was reportedly to have as many different nationalities of soldiers as possible to force the US to take a significant hostile action if it was to occupy Greenland. “We have not been in such a situation since April 1940,” a Danish defence source told DR.
The Danish ministry of defence and the offices of the Greenlandic prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, declined to comment.
