Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry in the polar region. "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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
