COPENHAGEN, Jan 18 (Reuters) – The United States made informal requests for sensitive information about Greenland’s military infrastructure, ports, and air bases from Danish military personnel in Greenland in January 2025, shortly before a visit by Donald Trump Jr., Danish newspaper Berlingske reported, citing newly obtained documents from the Danish Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence.
The requests were made outside established diplomatic and defence channels that would normally route through Copenhagen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, or senior leadership, according to heavily redacted documents released for national security reasons.
A U.S. military officer contacted the Danish military command in Greenland twice within six days, with the first inquiry on January 16, 2025, and a follow-up on January 26, 2025, seeking further details on the island’s infrastructure, including critical military sites. The information requested could be relevant to planning scenarios involving U.S. military action on the island, the report stated.
It is unclear whether any information was ultimately provided to the United States and, if so, what was shared. Danish defence officials were immediately alerted and escalated the matter to the highest levels, including the Chief of Defence, due to concerns about the “strategic climate” surrounding Greenland at the time.
The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen told Berlingske that dialogue with partners in Greenland and Denmark on security issues in the Arctic is normal and expected within the NATO alliance.
The requests came shortly before Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland on January 7, 2025. The timing aligns with renewed U.S. interest in the territory under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly described Greenland as strategically vital for national security, citing threats from Russia and China in the Arctic.
MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!!
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 7, 2025
🇺🇸🇬🇱 pic.twitter.com/1N2bJcUuaC
On January 17, 2025, Trump announced escalating tariffs on goods from eight European countries—including Denmark—starting at 10% from February 1, 2025, and rising to 25% from June 1, 2025, unless the U.S. is granted permission to acquire Greenland.
The Berlingske report, published on January 18, 2026, is based on previously undisclosed documents that remain heavily censored. Secondary coverage, including from RBC-Ukraine, directly references the Berlingske findings without introducing new information.
For the full original report (in Danish), see Berlingske. An English-language summary is available in RBC-Ukraine coverage.
