Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry in the Arctic. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
