The recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
