Denmark prepared a contingency plan earlier this year that included the potential destruction of key airstrips in Greenland to prevent U.S. aircraft from landing, according to a report by Danish public broadcaster DR.

The report states that Danish authorities considered using explosives to sabotage runways as part of broader emergency preparations tied to rising tensions over Greenland.

Those tensions followed statements from President Donald Trump indicating that the United States should control the island for national security reasons.

According to DR, the measures were outlined in a Danish military operations order dated Jan. 13. The plan reportedly included deploying troops to Greenland equipped with explosives capable of destroying runways if necessary.

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The goal of the plan, according to the report, was to prevent U.S. aircraft from landing in the event of a military confrontation.

Danish officials also flew in medical supplies, including blood reserves, in preparation for possible casualties.

DR said it based its reporting on information from 12 sources within senior levels of Denmark’s government and military, as well as sources among allied countries, including France and Germany.

“When Trump says all the time that he wants to buy Greenland … we had to take all possible scenarios seriously,” an unnamed Danish military official told DR.

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The preparations came as both Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly rejected the idea of the United States acquiring the territory.

At the same time, Denmark and several European allies deployed troops to Greenland under what was publicly described as a NATO exercise known as Arctic Endurance.

However, according to the report, sources indicated that the deployment had an operational purpose beyond training.

Soldiers participating in the deployment reportedly arrived with standard military equipment along with explosives and medical supplies. France, Germany, and Sweden also took part in the January deployment, according to the report.

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Despite the preparations, Danish officials reportedly sought to avoid escalating tensions with Washington.

On Jan. 21, President Trump announced a “framework” agreement regarding Greenland alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, though specific details of that agreement were not disclosed.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump addressed the situation directly, stating, “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland.”

U.S. military officials have also emphasized cooperation with Denmark regarding access to the region.

On March 17, U.S. Northern Command commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said, “We are working with Denmark through the Department of State to expand some of the authorities that are in the 1951 treaty to give increased access to different bases across Greenland.”

“But everything that we’re doing through NORTHCOM is through Greenland and through Denmark,” Guillot added.

The reported contingency planning highlights the seriousness with which Danish officials viewed the situation during the early months of the year, even as diplomatic efforts continued.

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