Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic'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 highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
