The Danish military had plans to detonate explosives on Greenland airfield runways to prevent a US invasion, The New York Times reported on Friday.
Quoting two unidentified European officials, the NYT wrote that Denmark had sent soldiers to Greenland with explosives and medical supplies to prepare for the plan's implementation if an invasion ever occured.
The plan came into place amid US President Donald Trump's attempts to acquire the 2.2 million sq km territory, which has been under Danish rule for over 300 years. Trump's efforts began during his first term as president, when he offered to buy Greenland in 2019, an offer Denmark rejected.
While Trump has never explicitly threatened to invade Greenland, US government discussions about acquiring the territory included the potential for military action, the BBC reported in January 2026, citing a White House source.
However, Trump stated that he "won't use force" to take over Danish territory during a January 2026 speech in Davos, Switzerland.
"We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But I won't do that," said Trump. "I don't have to use force, I don't want to use force, I won't use force."
Greenland a "national security priority" for US
Trump said in Davos that he was negotiating with European officials to guarantee "total access" to Greenland for the US.
During an interview with Fox News Business, he stated that the US must have a presence in Greenland for a "matter of national security."
President Trump has argued that acquiring Greenland is a "national security priority" for the US due to its strategic location. “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” said Trump aboard Air Force One in January 2026. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Trump elaborated on the subject during an interview with Fox News Business. "Everything comes over Greenland, said Trump. "If the bad guys start shooting, it comes over Greenland. It's pretty invaluable. It's amazing. You know, Ronald Reagan had the idea a long time ago, but we didn't have any technology at that point. The concept was great, but there was no technology. Now we have unbelievable technology."
In addition, Trump's former national security adviser, Mike Waltz, stated that the idea was based on the Island's "critical minerals” and “natural resources,” in a January 2024 Fox News interview.
The Trump administration's efforts have been both rejected and criticised by Greenland's leaders and the Danish government.
“When the President of the United States speaks of ‘needing Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it is not just wrong. It is disrespectful,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a statement reported by CNN.