Previously unknown documents from the Danish Ministry of Defense reveal that the United States informally sought information on military installations, ports, and air bases in Greenland from local Danish colleagues without involving Copenhagen, prompting concerns from the ministry and top Danish military leadership, as reported during the 6:45 a.m. to 9:16 a.m. UTC window on January 18, 2026. The documents indicate the US approached Danish personnel in Greenland directly, bypassing official channels in the Danish capital. This development emerges amid escalating tensions over President Donald Trump's January 17 announcement of 10% tariffs on Denmark and other nations starting February 1, rising to 25% on June 1 unless a Greenland purchase deal is reached. EU ambassadors are scheduled to hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on January 19 to address the US threats, according to a post on X by @Osinttechnical reported in prior coverage from earlier on January 18. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson described Trump's tariff strategy as the president 'playing chess' and stated no military intervention is foreseen in the dispute. European reactions include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's criticism of tariffs on NATO allies and Belgium's Foreign Ministry call for dialogue, as noted in previous statements.
