The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
