Two battalions from the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division in Alaska were placed on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota between 5:18 p.m. and 6:16 p.m. UTC on January 18, 2026, according to an X post by former intelligence officer Malcolm Nance citing unnamed sources. The unit, known as the "Arctic Angels," specializes in cold weather operations. Nance described the alert of the 11th Airborne as an "unambiguous indicator for an invasion of Greenland," noting Minnesota as a potential staging area because Canada would not permit overflights. He expressed skepticism pending local reporting. This report emerged over the 58-minute period ending at 6:16 p.m. UTC. A CBS News poll released in the same window found widespread bipartisan opposition among Americans to U.S. military action in Greenland, with many stating it would create more global instability, according to an X post by FaceTheNation. Separately, Danish newspaper Berlingske reported that the United States sought information on military installations outside normal channels in January 2025. These developments follow NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's call with President Donald Trump on Greenland and Arctic security between 4:47 p.m. and 5:17 p.m. UTC, as stated in an official X post.
