How Denmark quietly put Greenland forces on alert amid US tensions

Greenland, Denmark, Arctic

Denmark quietly placed its forces in Greenland on heightened readiness amid concerns about a potential US attack, instructing troops to be prepared to respond with live ammunition if necessary.

According to the Danish public broadcaster DR, the directive was issued from the highest levels of command and underscored how seriously authorities viewed the situation before tensions eased in the middle of the week.

Although neither the Danish government nor opposition parties assessed an attack as likely, preparations were made for what officials described as the most extreme conceivable scenario. DR reported that there was broad cross-party political backing for defending Greenland, even as expectations of conflict remained low.

The situation shifted on January 21, when US President Donald Trump publicly ruled out the use of force, easing immediate military concerns.

High-level directives and rapid movement

The written order, spanning several pages, instructed the Danish Armed Forces to raise their readiness to implement Greenland’s defence plans without delay. Shortly afterwards, both civilian and military aircraft were observed transporting personnel and equipment from Denmark to Greenland. Political and military sources told DR that these movements were part of a wider effort to ensure preparedness should the situation worsen.

Despite the scale of the response, political leaders did not consider confrontation inevitable. Instead, the prevailing assessment was that Denmark needed to be operationally prepared while demonstrating political resolve.

Authorisation for live fire

The deployment formed part of a multi-phase military operation conducted under the exercise name Arctic Endurance, which remains ongoing. The framework allows for the introduction of additional forces and capabilities if required, though no specific timelines have been made public.

The order confirmed that Danish soldiers were deployed with live KUP ammunition, enabling units to engage immediately if necessary.

While the operation had been planned in advance, recent developments led to it being brought forward, although the precise trigger has not been confirmed.

Troop, naval and air assets deployed

Since the order was issued, Arctic Endurance has been operating around the clock. The Danish Army now has what the Defence Forces describe as “substantial” units stationed in Greenland, including armoured infantry and specialist personnel.

Naval patrol vessels have been repositioned around Greenland, and a frigate is operating in ice-free areas of the North Atlantic. The Air Force has transported personnel and equipment, while F-35 fighter jets have carried out patrols over Greenland for the first time.

The operation also includes forces from European NATO allies, among them Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Unified political backing

Sources told DR that there was wide political agreement that Greenland should be defended if an attack occurred — not because Denmark believed it could match the United States militarily, but to ensure readiness and raise the political cost of any escalation.

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reflected this position earlier in the week, saying, “It is true that the American president has unfortunately not ruled out the use of military force. Therefore, the rest of us cannot rule it out either.”

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald Trump described Greenland as “our territory”, adding that the United States wanted the country but would not use force to acquire it. Moments later, he appeared to issue a warning: “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”