Denmark prepared in January for a possible US attack on Greenland.
When Danish soldiers were flown to Greenland, they brought explosives to destroy runways in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq.
This is reported by DR based on sources in the Danish government, top officers, and high-ranking officials and intelligence sources in Denmark, France, and Germany.
The explosives were intended to prevent US military aircraft from landing soldiers if US President Donald Trump, in the worst case scenario, wanted to take Greenland by force.
The soldiers also had blood from Danish blood banks to treat the wounded in the event of combat.
Continued high-tension situation
According to DR, the story is based on 12 central, anonymous sources. None of the 12 have concrete intelligence about attack plans, but several feared in January that the US could attack at any time.
The sources assess that the situation around Greenland remains so high-tension and sensitive that they can only speak anonymously, writes DR.
At the same time, the sources describe that Denmark gained a closer relationship with its European allies due to the crisis.
Shortly after the election of President Donald Trump, Denmark sought political support from France, Germany and Nordic countries to create a European alliance for the defense of the Danish Commonwealth.
Would not bow
Denmark wanted on the one hand to avoid escalation with the US, but at the same time not to bow if it came to an American attack, say several sources.
- The political leadership, the Defence and the security apparatus in Denmark decided to "play the game", says a French official.
France and a number of other European NATO allies sent soldiers to Greenland in January.
Sweden, Norway, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium and France sent one or more soldiers there.
- We would do almost everything that Denmark had asked for, the French official tells DR.
/ritzau/
