Denmark sent troops to Greenland in Jan 2026 amid U.S. acquisition threats, sparking NATO response and boosting Danish PM’s popularity.

In January 2026, Denmark deployed troops to Greenland amid rising tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s public calls to acquire Greenland for national security, according to Danish broadcaster DR. Multiple European nations joined a Danish-led NATO operation, Arctic Endurance, involving real military assets like explosives and medical supplies, signaling a readiness for potential conflict. Though the U.S. did not confirm the reports, Trump later withdrew his threats, proposing a vague framework with NATO. The crisis boosted Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s popularity ahead of an early election, while NATO launched the Arctic Sentry mission to strengthen regional security.