In a major story in Denmark, a Danish Radio team of journalists has uncovered that the Danish military, with support from other European countries, was prepared to meet a possible U.S. invasion of Greenland with military might, in connection with the previous threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to use military force to take over Greenland—which would be an attack by Denmark’s closest post-war ally. This included assembling a European military force under the cover of a joint military exercise called “Arctic Endurance” (to not escalate the situation, but send a clear message), but bringing explosives to blow up the airport runways in the capital Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq to prevent U.S. troop landings, live ammunition, and blood reserves in the case of battle casualties. This was confirmed by governmental and intelligence sources in Denmark, France, and Germany.
While there had been discussion in 2025 of the possibility of joint European military activities to defend Greenland, the Jan. 3 capture of the President of Venezuela brought the crisis to a head, including when Trump, the next day, repeated: “We need Greenland for national security. Right now Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships.... And Denmark is not going to be able to do it” to defend Greenland.
The immediate military force was comprised of troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, followed by elite soldiers from Denmark and French Alps warfare specialists. Danish planes and a French warship were on their way.
The idea was to up the ante, to prevent Trump from ordering a military takeover.
