Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following 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 American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint 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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
