Denmark is said to be considering measures to destroy essential airport runways in Greenland to deter a feared US invasion, amid increasing tensions over the island's governance.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Denmark had devised contingency plans for this sabotage in response to concerns that the United States under President Donald Trump might attempt to lay claim to the Arctic territory.
According to Denmark’s state broadcaster DR, Danish forces that were deployed to Greenland in January were supplied with explosives and given the directive to target key infrastructures such as the runways in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq. This initiative is intended to thwart US military aircraft from landing should an invasion occur. Additionally, medical supplies, including blood products, were sent to the territory in preparation for potential injuries if conflict were to erupt.
The news, referencing various sources within the Danish military, government, and among European allies, was later confirmed by European officials in discussions with the Financial Times. While the Danish defense ministry chose not to respond publicly to these claims, a high-ranking military official acknowledged that information regarding the initiative was limited to a select few due to its sensitive nature.
Greenland, which operates with a degree of autonomy as a territory of Denmark, has emerged as a significant point of friction between Washington and its European allies. President Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, emphasizing its strategic value, but both Denmark and Greenland’s leadership have firmly dismissed such proposals.
Tensions intensified in early January following a swift operation by elite US forces to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, which raised alarm among European nations regarding possible American aggressiveness overseas. Consequently, Danish officials reportedly began to contemplate dire scenarios, including a direct military option regarding Greenland.
In response to these developments, Copenhagen sought both political and military support from major European partners, including France and Germany, alongside Nordic allies. This led to the deployment of a multinational force, comprising troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, to Greenland under the pretext of joint military exercises named Operation Arctic Endurance.
This operation involved elite soldiers trained for Arctic combat, along with aerial and naval resources positioned in the North Atlantic. Although characterized officially as routine exercises, sources indicate the underlying aim was to prevent any unilateral US actions and to ensure that any move to seize the island would incur significant costs.
A defense official from Denmark explained that the strategy was not solely aimed at resisting a large-scale US attack, but rather to elevate the stakes enough to dissuade it. "The US would need to engage in hostile actions to lay claim to Greenland," the official stated, acknowledging the asymmetry in military capabilities.
Tensions appeared to diminish later in January when President Trump indicated at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he did not plan to use military force to secure Greenland, subsequently calling for negotiations to resolve the conflict.
Despite this easing of tensions, the incident highlights ongoing divides within NATO concerning Greenland's future and emphasizes the island's escalating geopolitical relevance in the Arctic region.
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