Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified 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 vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
