Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority 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 option to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
