Greenland Military Exercise Was Covert Deterrence Against US Threat, Sources Reveal

A January military operation in Greenland, publicly described as a routine exercise named Arctic Endurance, was in fact a covert deterrence mission against a potential US attempt to seize the territory by force, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Citing multiple sources in Denmark and abroad, DR reveals that the Danish government and military prepared for what was seen as the most serious security threat to the Kingdom of Denmark since the German invasion on 9 April 1940. The operation involved Danish, French, German, Swedish, and Norwegian troops.

While there was no concrete intelligence indicating an imminent US attack, American actions in the weeks prior—including a military intervention in Venezuela on 3 January—had raised concerns that such a scenario could not be ruled out, according to the sources.

The operation’s true purpose was disguised as a training exercise to avoid provoking the US while sending an unmistakable signal to Washington. Key details, such as the deployment of live ammunition, combat-ready aircraft, and additional blood supplies for potential casualties, were intended to be noticed by President Donald Trump’s advisors as a warning of the costs of any attempted takeover.

Soldiers were issued the long-standing royal engagement order, a 1952 directive permitting Danish forces to defend themselves if attacked. While routinely adjusted in peacetime, the order was applied in its original form during the operation—a decision sources describe as deliberate. It allowed troops to respond to an attack without explicit political approval, while publicly appearing as a neutral, decades-old protocol.

The crisis de-escalated on 21 January when Trump stated he would not use force to acquire Greenland, a position reiterated this week by the US ambassador to Denmark, Kenneth Howery. However, Arctic Endurance continues through 2026, an unusually prolonged timeline for a military exercise.

The operation’s covert nature reflects broader strains in Danish-US relations. Acting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared in a Sunday debate that the US is no longer Denmark’s closest ally.