Denmark prepared for the worst-case scenario in Greenland: orders to use live ammunition against Americans in the event of an attack.

According to DR, new data has revealed that Denmark was actually prepared to engage in a military confrontation in the event of an attack on Greenland, even if that attack came from the United States, as part of the worst-case scenarios that were dealt with at the highest political and military levels.

Background to the crisis and escalating tensions

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) reported that the situation inside the Kingdom of Denmark had reached a high degree of danger until Wednesday afternoon, when US President Donald Trump backed down from threatening to use military force during a speech at the Davos summit held at the economic forum in Switzerland.
According to DR, this data was based on its understanding of the details of the orders to send Danish soldiers to Greenland, in addition to information from informed central political sources.

Military orders from the highest levels

Last week, military leaders issued direct orders to Danish soldiers. The multi-page order stated that the defense forces must strengthen their ability to implement the Greenland defense plan as quickly as possible.
Shortly after these orders were issued, the public observed widespread movements involving military and civilian aircraft that, starting last Wednesday, began systematically transporting soldiers and equipment from Denmark to Greenland, according to DR.

rare political consensus

DR also revealed that there is a broad political will to defend Greenland in the event of an American attack, and this will is not limited to the Danish government alone, but also includes a wide spectrum of opposition parties, whether from the red or blue camp.
The sources confirmed that this position did not stem from a conviction that the United States could be militarily challenged, nor from a belief that the scenario was likely, but rather from the necessity of having a ready plan and raising the political cost to the American president if he chose the military path.

Worst possible scenario

Neither the government nor the opposition parties saw an American attack on Greenland as the most likely scenario, but President Donald Trump did not rule out this possibility in his previous statements.
Before he announced on Wednesday of this week, “I do not have to use force. I do not want to use force,” the Danish authorities and armed forces had already prepared for the worst possible scenarios.

Accelerating a large-scale military operation

The large-scale military operation, which was included in the order issued last week, is still ongoing in Greenland under the name Arctic Endurance Exercise.
The order indicates that the operation is multi-stage, with the possibility of sending more soldiers and military capabilities later, while the emergency management agency chose not to announce the dates of the different stages.
According to the text of the order, the operation aims to enhance the presence and level of activity in Greenland to demonstrate the will and ability to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom, and it also indicates the existence of a basic plan for the defense of Greenland that can be activated when necessary.

Supplying Danish soldiers with live ammunition

According to DR, the military order also states that Danish soldiers were sent to Greenland equipped with KUP live ammunition, which is ammunition that must be close to the soldier or unit to enable them to start fighting immediately if necessary.
In this context, Sten Rynning, a professor of war studies at the University of Southern Denmark and an expert on NATO affairs, told the source that it was not a symbolic exercise, but a defensive plan linked to what he described as the crown jewel.
Renning described the decisions the kingdom was forced to make as historic, stressing that he never imagined reaching a stage where Danish soldiers would be sent to train on a defense plan with live ammunition, perhaps driven by the political need to deter the United States.

Widespread deployment of Danish forces

Since the orders were issued, Operation Arctic Endurance has been operating around the clock, seven days a week. According to the armed forces themselves, this has resulted in a significant military presence in Greenland.
This deployment included armored infantry soldiers from the Jutland Dragon Regiment, a central unit described as part of the Danish Army's grip, as well as soldiers from the Skåfe Engineer Regiment, who specialize in mine and ammunition removal, building combat positions, and preparing terrain for battles.

Unprecedented naval and air reinforcement

The Arctic Command concentrated its patrol ships in the waters surrounding Greenland, while the barge Peter Willemoes took part in the operation within the ice-free part of the North Atlantic.
Air Force Hercules aircraft transported troops and equipment from Denmark to the north, while F-35 fighter jets conducted air patrols over Greenland for the first time.
The operation also included advance forces and soldiers from European NATO allies, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, according to the report.

International political repercussions

The participation of European allies led President Donald Trump to threaten them, along with Denmark, with punitive tariffs over the weekend, but these threats subsided after Trump's speech and meetings on Wednesday.

The political crisis is not over yet

Stein Reining believes that the military crisis may be over, but the political crisis related to sovereignty has not yet been resolved. He explained that the countries involved have tried to draw limits to their influence within NATO, especially after discussions began between the alliance and the United States about a possible agreement to enhance security in the Arctic.
Renning added that Trump, after facing resistance in Congress, a decline in the stock markets and a rise in interest rates, will now try to follow a different political path, but he expects this path to be difficult and turbulent, according to his statement to DR.

cautious official stances

The defense team declined to comment on the details of the story at this time, while the Prime Minister's office referred questions to the Ministry of Defence.
For its part, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that it does not comment on allegations regarding the content of classified documents, noting that the purpose of increasing the Danish presence is to conduct joint exercises with allied forces under the unique polar conditions in Greenland.
The ministry added that the Arctic endurance exercise will continue throughout 2026 on land, sea and air, according to the source.