Danish troops were placed on heightened alert as recently as last week and ordered to be prepared with live ammunition amid concerns over a possible US attack on Greenland, Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported on Friday.

According to the report, the military directive included instructions to deploy live ammunition to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, under a worst-case scenario. DR said the alert was based on assessments shared by central political sources involved in the decision-making process.

The heightened readiness remained in effect until US President Donald Trump stepped back from the threat of force following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the broadcaster added.

DR reported that Denmark’s response enjoyed broad political backing, extending beyond the ruling coalition to include a wide spectrum of opposition parties, all of whom supported resisting any potential attack.

Trump has repeatedly voiced interest in Greenland, pointing to its strategic importance in the Arctic, vast mineral resources, and concerns over growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected any proposal to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the Arctic island.

Following his meeting with Rutte, Trump said a framework had been established for a potential deal involving Greenland and the wider Arctic region. He also withdrew an earlier threat to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his bid to acquire the territory.