Danish soldiers on Greenland are ready for battle, as US seeks 'blank check' for military presence

Source: APE-MPA

Friday, January 23, 2026

Danish soldiers sent to Greenland have been ordered to be ready for battle in case of an American attack on this autonomous island belonging to Denmark, Danish public broadcaster DR assured today, as the United States pushes for an unrestricted mandate to solidify its military presence in the region.

According to the media outlet, the Danish army last week asked troops deployed in Greenland to equip themselves with live ammunition. It also noted that additional forces and resources may be sent to the island later if deemed necessary.

Subsequently, political and military aircraft began transporting soldiers and equipment to Greenland, according to DR.

Speaking to reporters today, Danish Defense Minister Truls Lund Poulsen declined to comment on this information.

After weeks of aggressive statements, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday from Davos that he had reached "a framework for a future agreement," which remains unclear, and appeared to back down from using force to acquire the island and from imposing additional tariffs against European countries.

The deployment of Danish soldiers in Greenland was officially part of the "Arctic Endurance" military exercises, under the Danish army in cooperation with the armed forces of other NATO countries, which Copenhagen has indicated will continue "for a large part of the year."

Following the American threats, eight European countries sent several dozen soldiers to Greenland. Some have since returned to their home countries, mainly a group of about 15 Germans and some Swedes, while others continue to arrive on the island.

Bloomberg: US seeks 'blank check' for military presence in Greenland

NORTH AMERICA

23.01.26 09:30

efsyn.gr

American negotiators want to rephrase the text of the defense agreement with Denmark, while Trump states that "we will have all the military access we want."

The US is seeking a revision of the defense agreement with Denmark to lift all restrictions on its military presence in Greenland, according to Bloomberg, which cites sources familiar with the situation, as the issue has become a central point of negotiations – to satisfy Trump's demand for control of the region.

The original 1951 agreement, as amended in 2004, stipulates that the US must "consult and inform" Denmark and Greenland before any "significant change" in its military operations or facilities on the island. This is precisely the point that American negotiators want to remove or weaken, so that there is no legal or political commitment.

Individuals familiar with the talks tell Bloomberg that the American side is seeking wording that would ensure absolute freedom of movement, without temporal or operational restrictions. The final details of the agreement remain open and are subject to negotiation.

White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, asserted that "if this agreement is finalized – and President Trump is particularly optimistic – the United States will achieve all its strategic goals in Greenland, at minimal cost and on a permanent basis." She stated that more details would be announced once a definitive agreement is reached by all parties involved. The Danish embassy in Washington declined to comment.

This stance is consistent with what Trump himself has publicly stated. On Wednesday, he announced that there is "a framework for a future agreement" on Greenland, following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, without, however, providing details.

"We will all work together. And indeed, NATO will participate," Trump said, implying that the agreement would not only concern bilateral US-Denmark relations but also the alliance. Returning from Davos, he noted that within two weeks he would make it clear whether Copenhagen had given its consent.

In an interview with Fox Business, Trump was even clearer about his intentions: "We will have all the military access we want. We will be able to put whatever we need in Greenland. Essentially, it's full access, without end and without a time limit."

A final agreement could de-escalate what many describe as the most serious crisis in transatlantic relations since the founding of NATO after World War II. According to previous Bloomberg reports, the framework described by Trump includes, among other things, the deployment of American missile systems, mining rights aimed at excluding Chinese interests, and an enhanced NATO presence in the Arctic. In return, the American President would commit not to impose tariffs on European countries.

This strategy marks a shift from recent decades, during which the US had drastically reduced its presence in Greenland after the end of the Cold War. From up to 17 bases, today they maintain one main facility with approximately 150 military personnel and over 300 contractors, many of whom are Danish or Greenlandic.

It remains unclear, however, to what extent Denmark and Greenland will accept changes of such a scale. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that both sides are open to a "further expansion" of the 1951 defense agreement, emphasizing, however, that this must be done "in a proper and respectful manner."

Former US officials note that the current framework already leaves significant room for action for Washington and that both Denmark and Greenland have for years encouraged a greater American military presence, as this also supports the local economy. As Iris Ferguson, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, commented, "there was always a willingness to discuss" whenever Americans requested more involvement – a reality that explains why Greenland is currently at the center of a geostrategic bargain with global implications.

Danish soldiers on Greenland are ready for battle, as US seeks 'blank check' for military presence