The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "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 issued 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
