Denmark was ready to blow up airports to stop a possible US invasion of Greenland, the country’s public television, the BBC and several authoritative newspapers reported.
According to Danish public broadcaster DR, Danish soldiers airlifted to Greenland in January were prepared to blow up key airport runways amid fears US President Donald Trump could invade the Arctic island.
Citing sources in the Danish government and military, as well as European allies, DR says blood supplies have also been brought in to treat the wounded in the event of conflict.
The Financial Times reported that two European officials later confirmed the report. Denmark’s Ministry of Defense told the BBC it would “make no comment”. A senior Danish military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that few people had been told about the operation for security reasons.
Both the US and Denmark are NATO members, and the issue of Greenland — a semi-autonomous part of Denmark — has deeply divided Washington and its European allies. Trump has repeatedly said he would like to annex Greenland during his second term as president. The leaders of Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected his requests to acquire the island.
