Denmark reportedly prepared contingency plans to blow up key airport runways in Greenland amid fears that then-US President Donald Trump might invade the Arctic island. According to a report by Danish public broadcaster DR, cited by BBC, The Guardian, and Fox News, Danish soldiers deployed to Greenland in January were equipped with explosives for potential runway demolition and blood supplies to treat wounded in case of battle.
Key Takeaways
Denmark reportedly prepared contingency plans to destroy key airport runways in Greenland amid fears that then-US President Donald Trump might invade the Arctic island. The preparations included deploying soldiers with explosives and blood supplies for potential battles.
- Denmark sent soldiers and explosives to Greenland's Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq airports
- Preparations were made after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
- Danish PM called snap election amid surge in support over handling of the crisis
The preparations came as tensions escalated over Trump's repeated statements about acquiring Greenland for national security reasons. Both the US and Denmark are NATO members, but Trump's demands had deeply divided Washington and its European allies. The deployment was initially presented as part of a Danish-led joint military exercise called Operation Arctic Endurance.
According to DR, which based its report on 12 sources within the highest levels of the Danish government and military, as well as among Denmark's allies in France and Germany, Copenhagen sought political support from European leaders. The situation escalated after elite US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise operation on January 3rd.
The following day, Trump told reporters he would 'worry about Greenland in about two months' and repeated that 'we need Greenland from a national security situation.' A high-ranking Danish security source told DR that when Trump kept saying he wanted to take over Greenland, and then what happened in Venezuela happened, they had to take all scenarios seriously.
The deployment included elite Danish soldiers and a French contingent trained for warfare in cold, mountainous areas. Danish aircraft and a French naval vessel were sent towards the North Atlantic. Despite the preparations, Denmark sought to avoid escalation with Washington. Trump later announced a vague 'framework' agreement on Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
According to Sky News, landing strips in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq could have been targeted to prevent US military aircraft from landing soldiers and equipment if President Trump had followed through on threats to invade. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen called a snap election after a surge in support over her handling of the Greenland crisis, with opinion polls suggesting she received a popularity boost amid public dissatisfaction over rising living costs and welfare pressures.
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