Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
