The Danish national broadcaster (DR) reported on 19/3/2020 that Danish soldiers deployed to Greenland in January 2020 carried explosives and blood bags. This was a contingency plan for a potential attack on the island after US President Donald Trump stated he would not rule out using force to control it.
The explosives were intended to destroy key airport runways on the island. Blood bags were carried to treat casualties if conflict erupted. These items are not typically part of normal Danish military operations in Greenland.
Two senior European officials confirmed this information, while the Danish Ministry of Defense declined to comment. "For security reasons, only a select few were aware of the operation," a senior Danish military official stated.
Both the US and Denmark are North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members. The issue of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, caused deep divisions between Washington and its European allies.
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Danish soldiers arrived in Greenland on 19/1/2020. Photo: Danish Defense Command |
President Trump had repeatedly stated his desire to annex Greenland for US national security, even considering military means. Greenlandic leaders and the Danish government consistently rejected his requests to purchase the island.
According to DR, sources indicated Copenhagen requested political support from Paris, Berlin, and other Nordic countries. This involved demonstrating European solidarity and organizing additional joint military activities in Greenland.
The situation became more serious on 3/1/2020, when US special forces raided Caracas to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The following day, Mr. Trump announced he would "resolve the Greenland issue in about two months."
"When Mr. Trump continuously spoke of wanting to take over Greenland, coupled with the events in Venezuela, we had to seriously consider every scenario," an anonymous senior Danish official stated.
Another European official commented, "After the Venezuela incident, the US believed they could accomplish anything."
Immediately afterward, a small military unit comprising Danish, French, German, Norwegian, and Swedish soldiers deployed to Nuuk, Greenland's capital, and the northern town of Kangerlussuaq, home to a crucial airport.
At the time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that this was merely an advance force, which would be reinforced with additional "land, air, and sea resources."
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Greenland's location. Graphic: BBC |
DR reported that the subsequent deployment included elite Danish soldiers and a French unit trained for high-altitude, cold-weather operations. Danish aircraft and a French naval vessel were also dispatched to the North Atlantic.
This deployment was publicly announced as part of a joint Danish-led exercise named Operation Arctic Endurance. However, according to DR, the actual reason was to prepare for a potential attack.
The broadcaster stated that the Danish government decided its soldiers would fight if Greenland was attacked. The runways at Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq would be detonated to prevent military aircraft from landing.
"The price the US would have to pay would be elevated. The US would have to undertake a hostile act to acquire Greenland," a Danish defense official revealed to DR. However, the official also conceded that the stationed forces were unlikely to fully repel a US attack.
On 21/1/2020, Mr. Trump declared he "does not want to use force and will not use force" against Greenland while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. This announcement by the US President significantly de-escalated the situation.
Mr. Trump later stated he was seeking to negotiate a compromise solution for the Greenland issue. However, this matter has since received less attention, as the US shifted its focus to the conflict in Iran.
By Hong Hanh (According to BBC, Guardian)
